Labour slams delay on Minimum Wage Directive
Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP has condemned the outgoing Government for failing to transpose the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive by the mid-November 2024 deadline, placing Ireland in breach of EU obligations. This missed deadline highlights the outgoing Government’s disregard for low-paid workers, who continue to face inadequate protections and stagnant wages.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP said:
“The deadline to implement the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive did not come as a surprise. EU governments had over two years to prepare, but shamefully, Ireland is among those who failed to meet the deadline. This failure exposes the scant regard the outgoing Government holds for the low-paid workers.
“The directive’s purpose is clear: to set a minimum floor of protections for workers. It aims to ensure statutory minimum wages in EU member states that allow workers to earn fair wages and to promote collective bargaining as the most effective way to secure genuinely fair pay. We know that one in five workers in Ireland are in low-paid jobs, a figure that has remained stubbornly high for over two decades.
“Women are disproportionately affected by low pay in Ireland, a direct reflection of the undervalued nature of care work, which forms a large part of the female workforce.
“Collective bargaining, a cornerstone of fair pay, is woefully underutilised in Ireland. Only 40% of Irish workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements, far below the EU average and half the 80% threshold set in the directive. Worse still, there is growing evidence of aggressive tactics by employers to block trade union access and undermine workers’ rights to organise.
“Workers in Ireland deserve better. They deserve a Government that prioritises their rights and respects its EU obligations. This directive is not just a piece of legislation; it’s a lifeline for millions of workers across Europe, and the outgoing Government’s failure to act is inexcusable.
“To see meaningful change, Ireland must fully implement the directive and commit to a sea change in how we treat workers. That means raising the adequacy of minimum wages, promoting collective bargaining, and ensuring every worker has a fair deal. The time for excuses is over. Ireland must meet its obligations and put workers first.”