Low pay is endemic in Ireland’s labour market
Summary
Dr. Lisa Wilson discusses a new report revealing that one in five full-time Irish employees earns below the real living wage of €543 weekly. She highlights that low pay is concentrated in retail, hospitality, and health sectors, driven by part-time hours and a lack of training rather than low hourly rates. Wilson argues that national minimum wage increases are insufficient, advocating for sector-specific reforms to improve job organization and access to full-time hours.
Topics discussed
Introduction and definition of the real living wage
Sustainability of low weekly earnings
Methodology for assessing low pay in the round
Low pay as an embedded feature of the Irish labour market
Key sectors driving low pay: retail, hospitality, care
Concentration of low pay and the role of part-time work
Lack of training and limited career progression
Sector-specific organization vs. national minimum wage
Ensuring jobs add up to a living wage
Retailer concerns regarding profit margins and wage increases
Justifiability of low wages in low-margin sectors
Finding: Most low-paid workers earn above minimum wage
Policy solutions: organizing work and accessing more hours
Zero-hour contracts and the poverty cycle
Long tenure and lack of on/off-the-job training
Closing remarks and guest credits
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