Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an mBille seo ó Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre.

When we discuss a living wage, we are by extension talking about the conditions of many workers across the State. Hundreds of thousands of workers are on low pay and just about keeping their heads above the poverty line. Families face a daily struggle to make ends meet and many are living from week to week. Some families are a pay packet away from homelessness as they struggle to pay their rents or utility bills, transport to work, food, clothing or exorbitant childcare costs.

Low pay has consequences for the economy, in that people's spending power is severely reduced. There is also reduced tax revenues and an increase in demands for welfare support.

People should not have to compromise and decide between putting food on their tables, heating their houses and accessing healthcare. A living wage will give a worker more disposable income, which could be spent in local businesses to the benefit of the local economy. More importantly, a living wage allows a worker to afford basic essentials like healthcare, food, clothing, housing, education, energy and so on. A living wage allows a worker to have an income that can provide him or her with a minimum acceptable standard of living.

Ireland has a larger number of low-paid workers than countries of similar economic status across the OECD. We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and inflation, which is still rising, is at the highest level it has been for nearly 20 years. A living wage in this economic climate would significantly address income inequality and poverty levels and fuel economic growth.

In this economy, many people are not being paid enough to live. They face significant pressures each and every day. While a minimum wage has been placed on a statutory footing, there is no compulsion on any employer to pay workers at a rate that would constitute a living wage. Low-paid workers make a considerable contribution to the economy, but without a living wage, they cannot participate fully in society. This has to change, even if that requires legislation. No worker should be left behind and everyone should be entitled to, and be paid, a living wage.

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