State rules see workers lose out on pay

Many Irish workers are being paid less than they need to live on because of government rules that favour employers, while their rights to fight against this are unfairly limited, according to labour rights report.

The State is legally bound to respect a range of measures, from fair wages and working hours to safety and trade union membership, under the Euroepan Social Charter.

However, it failed 11 of 22 measures it signed up to in the labour section of the charter when assessed by the Council of Europe — the rights body that is separate from the EU.