Current lower minimum wage for young to be examined

The Low Pay Commission is to investigate whether it is appropriate for young people to continue to be paid a lower minimum wage than the rest of the workforce simply because of their age.

At present an under-18 worker can legally be paid as little as €6.06 per hour, the equivalent of 70% of the full minimum wage rate of €8.65 per hour. For the first year after the worker turns 18, the minimum rate they can be paid is €6.92 rising to €7.79 in the second year. A reduced rate is also applied to certain trainees who may have to start off on just 75% of the full minimum wage.

Thanks to Budget 2016, the full minimum wage rate is set to rise from €8.65 per hour to €9.15 and the reduced rates for young people and trainees, as detailed above, will rise commensurately.