‘To blame the lowest paid for challenges in our economy is cheap’

Danny McCoy of Ibec and Owen Reidy of Ictu discuss future minimum wage increases

Listen | 52:56

Danny McCoy, chief executive of employers’ body Ibec, says planned labour policy measures by the Government are putting 'uncoordianted and cumulative' costs on businesses. Photographer: Alan Betson

Wed Jan 24 2024 - 18:10

Employers group Ibec’s chef executive Danny McCoy sent an open letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Monday calling for a pause on labour policy measures to avoid ‘uncoordinated and cumulative’ costs to businesses. Those measures include upping the national minimum wage and increases in employer Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI). In response, Owen Reidy, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, labelled Mr McCoy’s proposals as “short termist”. They joined host Ciarán Hancock to discuss the measures.

And Irish Times Work Correspondent Emmet Malone brings us up to speed on the public sector pay talks impasse. We hear what the main points of contention are for both sides after discussions stalled last week.