Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this Labour Party Bill, which would give a much-needed break to workers and families. Thousands of young people are still leaving in their droves because of poor opportunities, low wages and a lack of access to housing and childcare. This is creating a future with a skills crisis and families left devastated at home.

We have one of the highest rates of low-paid workers in the developed world, with 20% of our workers in low-paid jobs and 50% of women earning €20,000 or less per year. A living wage provides just what it says, namely, fair pay for fair work and the means for people to pay their bills, educate their children and own their homes. These are simple matters that should be afforded to every citizen.

We must also pay attention to the needs of SMEs and social enterprises. Some 70% of people employed in the private sector work for SMEs. How can we help them? Opening up procurement, maximising the potential of e-commerce and abolishing upward-only rents are just some of the ways that the Government could, and should, make it easier to do business in Ireland.

Regarding social enterprise, the community services programme, CSP, is a matter that I have often raised in the Chamber and at committees. We need to consider a system wherein the State funds wage increases on social enterprise projects, raising them to the point of a living wage as opposed to the minimum wage. Unfortunately, while many projects would love to pay their workers a living wage, they cannot because the payment from Pobal and the Government is too low.

With the ever-increasing cost of living, it is imperative that the Government increase the minimum wage by at least €1 and move towards a living wage for all workers. Merely stating that it will not oppose this Bill is not the same as supporting a living wage.

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