Minimum Wage Increase Benefits 127,000 Workers – Doherty

•30 cent increase in minimum wage from today

•Hourly rate increases to €10.10

“Fine Gael believes that the minimum wage is one of the most important ways to support working families.  That’s why we have increased the minimum wage on four occasions, with latest increase coming into effect today, bringing the hourly rate to €10.10.” Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty said today.

Up to 127,000 workers are set to benefit from the increase.

Fine Gael has increased the minimum wage on four occasions, with the hourly rate rising from €9.15 in 2016 to €10.10 in 2020. Ireland now has the third highest hourly National Minimum wage rate in the European Union.

Minister Doherty said, “With this most recent increase in the National Minimum Wage, an employee on minimum wage who works a full 39-hour week will now receive just over €600 more per year.

“In fact, since 2016, a minimum wage employee working a 39-hour week has received a gross pay increase of €2,331. Since 2015, we have increased the minimum wage by 13.2% – ahead of the rate of inflation – thereby ensuring real increases in the earnings of the lower paid. All types of work should pay well and it is Fine Gael’s determination that a job should really lift people out of poverty. The ongoing increases in the minimum wage help to ensure that happens.

“Fine Gael will always prioritise the living standards of workers and their families. This minimum wage increase is in addition to our fairer tax plan to put even more money back in the pockets of hard-working taxpayers.  Fine Gael in government would ensure no one earning less that €20,500 pays USC.”