MORE than 120 employers, trade union representatives and civil society organisations gathered at Dublin Castle today (Wednesday) for a forum on the Living Wage.
The event was hosted by Minister for Business & Employment, Ged Nash and addressed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton.
The Living Wage is an independently assessed and measured rate of income considered necessary to meet basic needs, such as housing, food, clothing, transport and healthcare.
Minister Nash has been championing the introduction of a voluntary Living Wage Campaign and has been engaging with progressive employers who are ready to take a leading role in bringing the campaign to Ireland.
IKEA, SSE, Oxfam, Clúid Housing, the Dublin Food Coop and the Labour Party have signalled their support for the development of a Living Wage Campaign in Ireland.
Tánaiste Joan Burton announced at the Forum that she had secured funding for the next phase of work on a Living Wage Campaign in Ireland.
“My support for the Living Wage initiative is well known because I believe in ensuring that the economic recovery is felt by everyone and workers should earn enough to provide for a decent standard of living. My department will make €40,000 available to fund the next phase of work for
the Living Wage Campaign, to scope out how such a campaign could be introduced in Ireland and what its framework would be.
“I’m committing the Labour Party today to being a Living Wage employer and while I acknowledge that more work needs to be done, with the commitment of the delegates representing employers and workers here today, I expect to see a Living Wage Campaign and process for accreditation up and running next year.”
Minister Nash said, “One of my central beliefs is that work should always pay. As our economy recovers, I believe this is an opportune time to examine how to introduce a campaign which is aimed at promoting decent pay.”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.