Mr. Greg Caffrey:

Mandate Trade Union fully supports the recommendation the Low Pay Commission has produced. It is unequal for workers to be placed in any employment where they carry out the same level of work as comparative employees and are paid significantly lower than them. The maximum minimum wage of €12.70 per hour is the floor for pay for workers in this country. It is further diluted by the application of sub-minimum wage rates. The national minimum wage is a floor and not a ceiling. We have heard some concerns from ISME about business costs and the dramatic increase over the past six months. There is a provision in the National Minimum Wage Act whereby an employer can go to the Labour Court and substantiate that they have an inability to pay the national minimum wage. There is a provision under which the Labour Court will give them a deferral if they can justify their claim.