Minimum wage rise is a blunt weapon

This week, the Low Pay Commission recommended that the National Minimum Wage be increased by 50c to €9.15 per hour — a rise of 5.8%.

This recommendation is expected to be implemented in the October budget and will become operational in January.

Not surprisingly, there has been mixed reaction to the proposed rise. Many of those who run businesses are not happy, as it will squeeze margins further and undoubtedly undermine the cost competitiveness of the economy to some extent.