Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 54:

In page 33, line 11, to delete "€2,000" and substitute the following:"€4,000, save and except in the case of failing to pay the national minimum wage under section 23 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 a sum not exceeding €20,000 per employee".

The maximum penalty should be €4,000. Revenue applies a figure of €4,000 for similar type of penalty. This would help to deal with vexatious employers seeking to delay compliance. In Britain new legislation has been introduced which provides for fines of up to £20,000 for non-payment of the national minimum wage. While we acknowledge the constitutional argument, the bottom line is that breaches of the Act undermine good businesses.Low pay adds a cost to the State in transfer payments and increased poverty. Maximum fines of €2,000 are not an adequate deterrent. We need to put in place penalties that will enforce a no tolerance policy.