Low Pay Commission passes in Houses of Oireachtas
14 July 2015
Labour Minister Ged Nash TD has announced that the Low Pay Commission Bill has passed all stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill is now being sent to President Higgins for early signature into law.
The legislation establishes the newly formed Low Pay Commission on a statutory basis. This independent body is tasked with advising the Government on the appropriate rate of the National Minimum Wage and other policy areas related to low pay.
The Low Pay Commission is expected to present its first report to the Minister next week.
Minister Nash said: “Making work pay is central to what this Government is doing in office and establishing the Low Pay Commission is a key element of that. As our economic recovery takes hold every worker, including those on low pay, should be given the opportunity to share in the hard won benefits.
“The passing of the Low Pay Commission Bill marks the delivery of a key commitment in the Statement of Priorities agreed last summer between the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. This represents a major institutional reform which will see the issue of low pay being tackled in a sustained, structured and informed way.”
"For the first time, the setting of recommended rate of the national minimum wage will be done independently and on an evidence-based approach. The historic legislation passed today underpins the work of the Low Pay Commission and will see it review the minimum wage on a yearly basis from now on, and examine other matters related to low pay.”