The Minimum Wage in Ireland is going up on 1 January 2019.
The minimum adult hourly rate is increasing by 25c to €9.80 per hour. It applies to everyone who does not fit into these categories:
- People aged 19+ and who have worked(*) for less than two years since they turned 18: For them, the minimum hourly rate is 90% of the adult rate, so it becomes €8.82 per hour.
- People aged 18+ and who have worked(*) for less than one year since they turned 18: For them, the minimum hourly rate is 80% of the adult rate, so it becomes €7.84 per hour.
- People aged less than 18: for them, the minimum hourly rate is 70% of the adult rate, so it becomes €6.86 per hour.
Do you have to be paid the minimum wage?
The law says that you must be paid at least the minimum wage. Employers can choose to pay you more than this - even if you are under 18 or have not been working for very long. Many employers do pay more than the minimum wage.
However over time, it is likely that other low-wage jobs will have wage increases, so they are still attractive to people who are looking for work.
Will everyone else's wages also increase?
An increase to the minimum wage doesn't apply to people who are being paid a higher rate - unless they have a contract which says they are linked eg "Your hourly pay rate is the minimum wage plus 50c".However over time, it is likely that other low-wage jobs will have wage increases, so they are still attractive to people who are looking for work.
What to do if you are being paid less than the minimum wage
If you are getting less than the minimum wage, then the first thing to do is to check:- Is there any exemption for your job (eg for trainees, apprentices, or employers in financial difficulty), or
- It is because of the way your hourly rate is calculated. (In some jobs, there are allowances or particular times that are or aren't included).
If you are not being paid correctly, you can choose what to do next. Some options are:
Talk to your employer
Sometimes employers make mistakes, don't know about the increased rates, or the amount of work experience that you have. It is usually best to ask them about the problem first and give them a chance to fix the problem, before getting anyone else involved.Talk to your union
If you belong to a union, then a union delegate or staff member can talk to your employer about the minimum wage rate, and how it applies to you. They will also know if your employer regularly pays people less than they should, and what to do about it.Talk to Workplace Relations
The Workplace Relations Commission is a government agency that helps to protect employees' rights. They can investigate and may do various things to help convince your employer to pay you correctly - anything from a gentle reminder letter or phone-call, right through to a full audit of your workplace and/or taking your employer to court.- You can ask them a general question using this form or by phoning 059 9178990 / Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 during office hours.
- Find out about making a formal complaint to them is on this page.
Do nothing - or find a better job
If someone is paying you less than the minimum-wage, then they are breaking the law.
f they keep doing it, even after they know about the law, then probably it's not a great place to be working: Many people would say that you should focus on finding a better job, with an employer who is not going to behave like this.
f they keep doing it, even after they know about the law, then probably it's not a great place to be working: Many people would say that you should focus on finding a better job, with an employer who is not going to behave like this.
