Tax break demand for minimum wage staff

EMPLOYERS have called for tax breaks for minimum wage workers as a way to save the national pay talks and tackle the country’s economic difficulties.

As Taoiseach Brian Cowen moved to try and rescue the negotiations from collapse, IBEC director general Turlough O’Sullivan insisted business would not budge from its below inflation stance.

He said Mr Cowen had room to “tweak” tax and PRSI scales for the low paid to sweeten any deal.