Ireland mulls minimum wage hike

The Irish government's Low Pay Commission is recommending an increase in the national minimum wage of 50 cent per hour, it was learned on Tuesday.

The current level of minimum wage, 8.65 euros (9.46 U.S. dollars) per hour, was set in 2007 and it has not risen since then. It was cut briefly to 7.65 euros in 2011 but that cut was reversed soon after it was made.

In a comprehensive report submitted to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the commission sets out a range of data it has considered in recommending the 50-cent increase.

The Low Pay Commission, set up early this year, is an independent body to make annual recommendations to the government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters.

The available evidence suggests that moderate increases in the minimum wage will not lead to significant loss of jobs, it said.

"For a full time worker on the national minimum wage hourly rate, a 50 cent per hour increase will mean a pay rise in excess of 1,000 euros per year. There are some 120,000 workers who are likely to benefit from such an increase," said Gerald Nash, minister of state for business and employment.

The minimum wage was introduced in Ireland by the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. It states an hourly wage above and equal to which employers must pay employees. Since July 2011, the minimum wage guarantees an hourly wage of 8.65 euros to adult employees aged over 18 with at least two years previous employment experience. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollars) Endite