People Before Profit launch National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022 to end wage discrimination against young workers
Bill supported by Mandate, Unite, UCD Students Union, the Union of Students in Ireland and the Irish Second Level Students Union
Bill to be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday, 14th June with rally to be held outside Dáil
8 June 2023 – People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy hosted a press conference today to launch the party’s Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022. The press conference also featured representatives from Mandate Trade Union, UCD Students Union and the Union of Students in Ireland. The Bill is also supported by Unite the Union, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union and the National Youth Council.
The Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022 would amend the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to end minimum wage pay discrimination for workers under the age of 20.
- The national minimum wage is €11.30 for people aged 20 and over, but for under 20s the legal minimum wage is as low as €7.91 per hour.
- Tens of thousands of young workers are set to be exploited as they take up jobs this summer
- Businesses also use the low wages they are allowed to pay young workers to keep wages and hours down for older workers.
Deputy Murphy said “There is no justification for paying young people less than the minimum wage. These people are doing the same work as their colleagues in the same workplace and yet it’s legal for them to be paid even less than the minimum wage. That is completely unjust”.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said “Not only does this discriminate against and exploit young people, it is used to put downward pressure on wages for older workers and to reduce hours for older workers on higher wage rates. An end to this discrimination against younger workers would be a win for all workers.”
Deputy Boyd Barrett also said “The recent Dáil vote in favour of People Before Profit’s abortion rights bill shows that pressure works. We urge people to write to your local TDs demanding they support the bill, and if they can, supporters should join the rally in support of the bill at 9.30am next Wednesday outside the Dáil on Kildare Street as the debate starts”.
UCDSU President Molly Greenough said: “UCDSU wants to see an immediate end to the exploitation of young workers under the age of 20. This is a form of discrimination that just compounds things for students working long hours just to put themselves through college. Abolishing sub-minimum wage rates for workers under 20 is only fair. We’re calling on the Government and members of the Dáil to support this Bill and take a simple step towards tackling the cost of living crisis, supporting young people in their pursuit of higher education and valuing them in the workplace.”
