IBEC's latest pay survey also shows that the majority of these will be permanent positions.

Rail passengers are facing days of disruption in the coming weeks after unions voted for a series of 24-hour all-out strikes in their long-running row over pay.

Employers’ group Ibec has expressed concerns about proposals to introduce legislation to outlaw zero hours working contracts.

The Small Firms Association has said most of its members plan to give pay rises this year based on their ability to do so, after the Government raised the minimum wage by the 30c.

The Government is to crack down on employers’ exploitation of low-paid workers through zero-hour, low-hour and banded hours contracts.

Passengers have been left without a bus service for the foreseeable future as unions begin an all-out strike from today.

As the Irish Congress of Trade Unions pushes for private sector pay rises of 4% in 2017, employers say the figure could be 2.5% or 3% this year.

Juno McEnroe meets unions, employers groups, and politicians who give their take on the wave of pay disputes

Siptu has called for Ibec’s appointee to the Workplace Relations Commission to “consider her position” after the employer’s body criticised a Labour Court recommendation.

IBEC says the Luas strikes due tomorrow and Easter Monday are bad for Dublin and the overall tourist industry in Ireland.

Postal services have suffered serious disruption after an official strike by subcontractors responsible for maintenance of the automated sorting systems at An Post’s four main mail centres.

The Irish Business and Employers group, IBEC, claims a proposed minimum wage increase will cripple companies.

Ireland is suffering a “brain drain” as thousands of mothers leave the workforce every year due to the excessive costs associated with childcare, according to new research.

The minimum wage increased in real terms by 10% during the crisis years from 2008 to 2014, according to figures from the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat.

The teachers’ strike, which will cause disruption to hundreds of thousands of students and parents today, looks set to spill into next year with the Government and unions entrenched.

The rate of absenteeism in Irish workplaces has dropped during the economic crisis.

The Government is considering legislation which would force employers to conduct sobriety tests on their drivers.

All-out strike action by 6,500 electricians on February 24 could cause as much disruption to major infrastructural projects and manufacturing enterprises as similar action did in 2009.

The decision by the Government to no longer pay a rebate to employers for statutory redundancy payments has seen the cost of the refunds fall from €373m three years ago to just €49.5m last year.

Ireland’s international reputation will be damaged by power outages threatened by ESB workers, it was claimed.