TASC welcomes report on low pay, decent work and the living wage

Press Release 10 December 2015: TASC welcomes the report by Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which recommends that the living wage has an important role to play in addressing persistent income inequality and poverty levels.

The Report on Low Pay, Decent Work, and a Living Wage makes a comprehensive case in favour of the introduction of a living wage that is not just about an hourly rate of pay but ensuring adequate living conditions for low-paid workers.

“The emphasis in this report on the need to look beyond an ‘hourly’ approach to addressing low pay is very welcome, particularly given the increasing prevalence of insecure and non-fixed hour contracts,” said Dr David Begg, director of TASC.

The committee report suggests that the Low Pay Commission consider the findings of the Irish Living Wage Technical Group (which TASC is on) to make the minimum wage a living wage by increases it, and also by investment in public services.

The living wage is one which makes possible a minimum acceptable standard of living. TASC is a member of the technical group which calculated the living wage at €11.50 per hour for 2015. 

Read the Oireachtas Committee report.

The Living Wage website.

A large part of the research, writing and analysis in the Oireachtas report was carried out by Dr Rory Hearne earlier this year, before he was appointed a Senior Policy Analyst with TASC.