Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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143. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will abolish sub-minimum rates of pay for young workers and ensure that all workers receive at least the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9250/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Low Pay Commission (LPC) previously undertook a review of the sub-minima or ‘youth rates’ as part of its work programme and recommended, in 2017, abolishing the training rates and simplifying the youth rates by moving to age-related as opposed to experience-based rates. The LPC's recommendations were accepted by Government and were introduced as part of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018. The LPC commissioned research by the ESRI and consulted widely on this matter before making their recommendations.

Last year the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment requested the LPC to again examine the issues around retaining or removing the youth rates and to make recommendations on the subject. To inform its work, the LPC has asked the ESRI to conduct background research on this issue under the terms of the LPC-ESRI Research Partnership Agreement.

The LPC’s report and recommendations on sub-minimum rates are expected later this year.

While the issue of sub-minimum youth rates is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the LPC with regard to any future changes in the National Minimum Wage.