Minimum wages workers in Ireland are in for a slight boost in their income in just a matter of days.
From January 1, all workers on an hourly rate will see an increase in their payslips.
The increase in payment is being made as a way to help people meet the rising cost of living in Ireland, and will be a welcome change to many people's pockets next year.
Here’s everything you need to know before the change is made:
From January 2022:
- anyone aged 20 or more will now earn €10.50 per hour
- anyone aged 19 will get €9.45 per hour
- anyone aged 18 will earn €8.40 per hour
- anyone under 18 will get €7.35 per hour
If you receive a subsidy from your employer for things like food or accommodation, the maximum amounts that can be included are:
- for board, only €0.94 per hour worked
- for accommodation only €24.81 per week or €3.55 per day
There are also a number of people who are not eligible for the increase, and according to the Government this includes:
- employees who are close relatives of the employer, where the employer is a Sole Trader
- a craft apprentice within the meaning of the Industrial Training Act, 1967, or the Labour of Services Act, 1987
According to Leo Varadkar: “It is estimated that at least 135,000 people will get this increase with many others on slightly higher pay levels also getting a knock-on increase.”
The Tanaiste said he hoped these changes “will go some way to protecting the lowest-paid workers from the rising cost of living.”
Since 2015, the National Minimum Wage has increased from €8.65 per hour to its current rate of €10.20, which is more than 17%, and Varadkar noted: “Is substantially more than inflation during that period.”
