Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

168. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission to prepare a report examining the issues around retaining, removing, or expanding youth rates of the National Minimum Wage has been progressed following the publication of the Commission’s Living Wage Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50019/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Pursuant to S.I. No. 72/2019 - National Minimum Wage (Prescription of percentages of hourly rates of pay) Order 2019, an age-based system currently applies to the payment of the National Minimum Wage to those aged under 20 years of age.

This age-based system was introduced following recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission in 2017 on subminimum rates of the National Minimum Wage.

On 28^thFebruary 2022 I asked the Low Pay Commission to again examine the issues around retaining or removing these youth rates and to make recommendations on the subject.

This request was referenced in the Commission’s report on the living wage where they recommended that “it reviews the issues around retaining, removing, or expanding youth rates and makes recommendations on this issue”.

I understand that the Low Pay Commission has begun to consider this issue and has discussed with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) terms of reference for supporting research on subminimum rates, under the Low Pay Commission / ESRI Research Partnership Agreement.

The Low Pay Commission is due to submit their report and recommendations on youth rates during 2023.