9th January 2015
Minister Nash urges interested parties to apply to serve as members of the Low Pay Commission before Monday 12th January
The Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD, is urging anyone interested in serving on the new body which will examine the appropriate rate of the National Minimum Wage to apply before the deadline of next Monday 12th January.
The Low Pay Commission is being established by the Government to advise it on an annual basis on what the National Minimum Wage should be. This was a key commitment in the Statement of Priorities agreed by the Tánaiste and Taoiseach in July last year.
The nine members of the Low Pay Commission will consist of:
- An independent chairperson
- Three people with a deep understanding of the interests of low paid workers, preferably with a proven track record of working on behalf of the low paid
- Three people with a deep understanding of employer interests, preferably where the national minimum wage is relevant and who have good knowledge of issues such as labour costs and competitiveness challenges facing Irish businesses
- Two members with experience of economics, labour market economics, statistics or employment law
Anyone who is interested in applying can do so via www.stateboards.ie
Minister Nash said, “The work of the Low Pay Commission is vital and continues the dignity of work agenda that I am pursuing in my portfolio.
“The current rate of €8.65 has not been changed since this Government reversed a totally unjust slashing of the minimum wage by the previous administration in 2011.
“Work should always pay, and as our economy recovers with predictions for a positive year ahead, I think it is timely that an independent body examines that rate to see if the minimum wage should be increased.”
“I am pleased with the level of applications that the Public Appointments Service has received to date, but would urge anyone interested who has not yet applied to do so before the deadline of midnight on Monday next,” Minister Nash concluded.
Up until now, the National Minimum Wage could be changed following a recommendation in a national agreement, a recommendation by the Labour Court or unilaterally by the Minister.
The establishment of the Low Pay Commission essentially is taking the politics out of setting the minimum wage.
As well as recommending the rate of the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission can be asked to examine related matters and any such request would be agreed and given to the Commission when its annual work programme is outlined in February of each year.
A budget of €500,000 has been secured for the work of the Commission in 2015.
The closing date for applications to the Low Pay Commission is next Monday 12th January at midnight.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Deirdre Grant 01 631 2227 or 086 0484 279
DJEI Press Office 01 6312220 or press.office@djei.ie
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