Minimum wage up 10% in real terms

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.

Ireland has the fifth highest monthly minimum wage in the EU at €1,462 before tax or social welfare payments and is the only country where it remained the same over the past four years.

But when adjusted for the cost of living in each country — purchasing power standards (pps) — the wage was worth 1,238 pps in January this year, up from 1,125 pps at the start of 2008 — an increase of 10%.