Sir, – I was disappointed to see that Labour has promised a €2 increase in the minimum wage if it is in government after the next election ("Joan Burton pledges €2 rise in minimum wage", December 18th).
A perusal of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) website clearly demonstrates that the minimum wage in Ireland, both before and after tax, already compares very favourably with the minimum wage in the countries with which we compete.
Increasing it further would result in a lack of competitiveness and job losses.
This Labour plan appears to me to be nothing more than traditional pre-election guff.
Would it be naive of me to ask all politicians to do their sums before the election and only make promises that they know that they will be able to keep? – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’SULLIVAN,
Crossabeg,
Co Wexford.