SFA slams ICTU's mimimun wage increase call

The Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA) Pat Delaney, has said that the SFA is "fundamentally opposed" to any increase in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and that any increase under the current review would be indefensible.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is seeking a €1.75 increase in the national minimum wage from May 1 this year.

"The SFA sees no justification in the Labour Court recommending an increase in the NMW in the current circumstances," said Mr Delaney, adding the SFA had undertaken "extensive economic research into the review methodology as set out in the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000, namely movement in earnings of employees, relevant exchange rate movements, level of unemployment and employment, inflation and national competitiveness".

Mr Delaney said government policy should be directed to ensuring low-paid workers pay no tax "rather than increasing production costs which then find expression in price rises".