Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash has said he wants to see the National Minimum Wage progressively increased over a period of time and is calling for applications for membership of a new Low Pay Commission to examine it.
Mr Nash said there has not been a real minimum wage increase since 2007 and he would like to see one, if economic circumstances allow.
The new Low Pay Commission will examine the appropriateness of the current minimum wage of €8.65 which was introduced on 1 July 2011.
Mr Nash also said he would not introduce any measure that will impact on the ability of a single business across the country to create and sustain jobs but neither would he “stand by and allow our economic recovery to be defined by a race to the bottom”.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Nash added that it was really important that the jobs that were created “pay reasonably, pay well and ensure that there were good terms and conditions”.
Commenting on the restoration of public pay, Mr Nash said Minister for Expenditure Brendan Howlin had made it very clear that after years of sacrifice, those working in the public sector would have the opportunity through their trade unions to open discussions with the Government.
He said there had been quite a considerable number of pay increases awarded right across the economy over the last period of time as the economy improved.
Applications for the Commission opened at midday today and Labour TD Mr Nash called for people from worker and employer backgrounds, civil society groups and labour market experts to apply for membership.
It is hoped the nine-member body will be operational from February.
The Commission will look at data from the Central Statistics Office and consult with the Department of Finance, workers on the minimum wage and employers.
Mr Nash said: “We are essentially taking the politics out of setting the National Minimum Wage."
He added that he hoped to have the first report from the commission next summer.
