Minimum wage request criticised

IBEC has severely criticised the request by ICTU to seek a formal review of the national minimum wage.

IBEC director Brendan McGinty said: “Job security must be the focus. It does not make any sense to raise the minimum wage at a time when thousands of jobs are being lost every week.Companies simply cannot afford an increase and any rise will result in job losses. Living standards of those on the minimum wage are not under threat as the cost of living will actually fall next year. No increase is justified.”