Trade unions will mark May Day today which is celebrated as International Workers’ Day.
A series of events will take place beginning with a meeting of union leaders at Fórsa headquarters for a seminar on the minimum wage.
The rate has increased repeatedly in recent years but unions have accused the Government of trying to row back on future commitments.
Amid concerns about high business costs, a plan to replace the minimum wage with a new living wage has been delayed by three years to 2029, and a decision on whether to abolish youth sub-minimum rates has been deferred.
On International Workers’ Day, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has called for the immediate abolition of sub-minimum rates of pay.
“Today, we’re highlighting the urgent need to address the ongoing issue of inadequate pay, which continues to undermine the living standards of ordinary people, already crippled by a cost of living crisis,” said Kathryn Walsh, NYCI Director of Policy and Advocacy.
The Department of Enterprise has said that it remains committed to fair wages for all workers and has highlighted substantial increases in the minimum wage in recent years that have seen real increases in lower paid workers’ wages.
May Day rally
This evening, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions will hold its annual May Day rally at the Garden of Remembrance which will be followed by a march to Liberty Hall.
It will include an open top bus representing SIPTU’s Respect Transport Workers campaign which is calling for the establishment of a transport policing service to counteract anti-social behaviour on the public transport network.
“May Day is a date for celebrating the victories of the organised workers’ movement such as paid holidays, pension provision and sick pay,” said SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising and Campaigns, Darragh O’Connor.
