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LABOUR LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE Joan Burton said today she wants a “low pay commission” set up to advise the Government about minimum wage.
Speaking at a leadership debate with rival Alex White TD, Burton said that she “strongly believes that a wage-led recovery is critical”, arguing that “we should not fear the employment consequences of increases in the minimum wage”.
The UK has Fair Work Commission which recently awarded a 3% increase in the minimum wage and the Minister for Social Protection says that she would like to see a similar independent body in operation in Ireland.
“The commission would report annually to Government, making evidence-based recommendations on the appropriate level for the minimum wage,” she said, adding that unions and employers would be included in the membership of the commission.
Burton also said that being in Government remains the best way of pursuing the goals of the Labour movement.
Burton said that, “whatever the difficulties”, being in Government remains the best way to ensure the delivery of social democratic ideals.
Pensions
The hustings took place at the offices of the Communications Workers’ Union in Dublin with Burton also saying that a comprehensive Government response to the pension crisis must also be put in place.
“Given its complexities, a comprehensive Government response in this area must be developed in phases.”
She explained that these phases would firstly be a white paper with costed proposals and a second phase that looked at how the proposals would be introduced.
“There are complex issues be explored and at this stage nothing can or has been ruled in or out,” she said.
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Isn’t it amazing how suddenly Joan Burton and others in the Labour leadership have rediscovered their consciences? Where has it been for the last three years as they cut and slashed the living standards of working families?
A month ago she was cutting e everything with Gilmore, the butcher Bruton will say anything to become leader of the labour party, if she was on fire I would not even spit on her the back bitein bitch
She’s a looker though. Even without the wig and her bed face on.
They already raised the minimum wage by a euro
Its amazing what 4% popularity in the polls does alright, whats next cutting the usc?
They’ve gone beyond the pension threshold.
2 months ago this dope said unemployment in Ireland is linked to people not wanting to work because they have been conditioned to be lazy in school, doing little work and taking part in long summer holidays have made 400,000 people on the dole lazy and uninterested in work…her solution push people into Jobbridge scams to knock the laziness out of them. What an actual ape…we all say stupid things but this shows a complete lack of understanding for the current unemployment situation.
What have her looks got to do with this and why is it that male politicians are never criticized for their looks? It’s her policies that are at question here, not her looks!
If you get paid more they can tax you more.
Joan would know everything about the min. wage!
Now, isn’t that photo at the top of this article not enough to wake all union members up to what should happen to their union dues and O’ Connor’s future also.
Joan go away you full of sh-te
wages arent the bloody problem you plebs, its the lack of jobs and when I say jobs I mean actual companies and businesses paying a wage instead of jobbridge scam where the taxpayer is forking out to pay for people to work for nothing, real jobs, lower tax bands, lower child care costs and then you will see a recovery. You wont see it with no jobs and taxes…..
“Joan Burton chats to President of SIPTU Jack O’Connor”, a meeting of minds that don’t matter
Only meeting with him to ensure the labour party still gets some type of cut from the union payment from all the members,
Get on to your shop steward for a form to ensure none of your dues go to the Labour party.
She’s ignoring the need to reform a welfare system that often makes non work more attractive than work
I dont care about the minimum wage you idiot. I want a flipping job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont mind working for minimum wage. Fix the jobs crisis, the energy rates and the overly inflated car tax and the rising rent and the rising NCT cost and the rising everything costs!
You put up minimum wage, they will just raise everything to meet that.
The mind boggles.
You obviously weren’t around when car tax was based on engine size and not emissions
As it stands only cars manufactured post march 08 pay tax based on emissions. Anyone that cant afford a car that new pays the old rate. Another way to take more money from the poor than the rich.
No i wasnt J.
That make you at most 6 years old ! Does yer mammy know yer posting on the Journal ???
Jobsbridge destroyed the minimum wage, most companies are spoiling to get rid of their minimum wage staff (8.65 an hour plus safety training, PPE, verious entitlements, etc.) and replaced them with interns (1.20 an hour).
And thats what it was designed to do and was wholeheartedly supported by Labour and Union beards. Any new jobs now advertised are for the lowest possible amount of money that they can offer because they know that it is either dole, scambridge, crap paying job or emigration. I wonder how many of their own children have to face such choices?
The minimum wage is not something i would be in favour of despite my slightly left views. Its fine for big companies but the big employers in ireland are small businesses that are already struggling to survive and so many have already gone out of business.
Ruairi, Your not in favour of a minimum wage I see because it dont effect you, and if any business cant pay the staff a decent wage then they shouldn’t be in business
If they’re already gone out of business then they have nothing to fear from any future increase in the minimum wage. This will only affect viable, successful businesses who have survived the bad times and can therefore well afford it.
Ruairi, agree with you there. A reduction in the lower tax band would also benefit the lower paid without affecting the small business owner but the belief that it would affect the tax take means they probably will not even look at this option. But if they were to do this putting more money into the pockets of people would give them more spending power, potentially increasing the tax take through direct (PAYE) and indirect (VAT) taxes.
I mean reduce the tax band to give more spending power not increasing minimum wage*
Sorry denise i meant im not in favour of increasing it.
Elizabeth how can you reduce the minimum wage the poor are poor enough allready.
The biggest problem at the moment is that some employers are just taking the piss out of the minimum wage because of greed !!!
OK Ruari
Jack, I’m not suggesting reducing the minimum wage, I’m suggesting a reduction of the lower rate tax band
Leaving cert economics: “wage inflation reduces a county’s competitiveness”. Discuss.
Perhaps too complex for JB
Populist nonsense. No wonder labour are in trouble if this is the best she can come up with.
It populist nonsense to say its populist nonsense.
We’ve had wage deflation on a massive scale for the past 5 yrs. We’re competitive enough. If a business can’t afford to pay a living wage then they shouldn’t be in business.
Remind me , how much is “competitive enough”?
Methinks Joan is planning for election already
There are no jobs
JobBridge do not pay minimum wage
Tell the peasants what they want to hear
and maybe they will forget we have done nothing for them
The working man/woman do not want Labour in their corner
Promising everything delivering nothing
Seems to have worked for FF Damo. I call it,The idiot nation equation.
Medical card x Planning permission + Tax Free Farm Income ² = Election success
Because of job bridge the minimum wage is just over a euro an hour to employers. Maybe she should abolish that.
Explain how jobs bridge is a Euro an hour to employers.
It is FREE to them.
They pay nothing so it costs nothing. A scam.
They pay 50 euro a week per employee
What Labour goals in government Joan? Could you detail them please as I’ve not seen any in the last 3 years.
Living wage is better than min wage
A proper living wage is double the minimum wage but what do politicians know about that they are all on expenses for meals travel accommodation and even entertainment.
Why can’t a person who works 39 hours a week be able to earn a wage which they can at least live on. Instead we are told it’s better to get a min wage and have social welfare subsides them so they can live.
If social welfare didn’t have to subsides low paid workers and it people got at least a living wage, then most people would work, most people would get less welfare, most people would pay more tax and the consumer demand would increase etc etc etc
Joan Burton and the Labour party should step down people don’t want to hear anymore shit from there mouth they have done to much damage and told to many lies
How about we remove the ‘temporary’ USC before we go about crippling small businesses by jacking up the minimum wage, which is still above EU average?
Min wage is above the eu average..but tackle the cost of living first which is way above eu average
The moment the USC gets abolished is the moment they’ll introduce the Universal Health Insurance charge.
That’s one way to keep unemployment up and her in a job.
Agreed companies,shops etc already using Jobbridge, that would rise, as these people dont want to pay minimum or cant in some cases pay it now. Job loses on the rise (here we go)
What’s the point in increasing the minimum wage when so many companies hire people through bogus contractor schemes where they are effectively in full time work but don’t get any of the benefits or holiday or sick pay while getting less than the minimum wage.
Should we not Joan? Ok, I’ll try not to fear it so. The unmitigated gall of this appalling woman leaves me speechless. Beware Joan, you may aggravate people too much.
Minimum wage is/should be just a starting point for employment. Anyone still on the minimum wage after a few years in employment is either in the wrong job or has no desire to make themselves worth more. It is an employers market need to demonstrate that they are worth more. Up skill by taking night classes or go back to collage and get a qualification.
People just can sit there and expect a pay rise handed them for nothing.
Desperately immature comment to make and opinion you have….not been on this Earth long?
Would you like to explain why you think it’s immature?
There a very very few situations where someone needs to spend years at the minimum wage. Most employers give pay raises with tenure and experience. And if the business is doing well bonuses are offered also.
Do you have example where people have been on the minimum wage long term?
Mark….no disrespect to you but if you actually believe your own cr@p….then you haven’t got a hope!!
the starting point lol, the starting point for graduates of your night classes, college and leaving with said papers = €1.20 per hour i.e. jobsbridge.
not only that but a huge percentage of them have real world experience, in their 30s, 40s, they’ve just upskilled a bit but now back down the ladder except much lower than min.wage. Strange isn’t it?
Thats the reality as of today 14th June Ireland 2014 my friend.
Who in their right minds fears an increase in their wage?
People with low self-esteem who don’t think they’re worth it.
Neal Sir….I doff my cap to you….such a deep and profound insight you have (very deep and very profound).
Jesus.
‘We need a wages led recovery’
No Joan. We need a lower cost of living, in line with the fkn reality that we’re broke.
It’s tiresome now.
That is all.
what percentage of minimum wage workers in Ireland are actually Irish?
put her out to graze,, some old clap trap,, thinking labour will ever look after the working the old the young the vulnerable is like asking oliver reed to mind your pint
We fear a cost paid by someone else?
I’ve just opened a business 8 months ago. I didn’t want to emigrate again so decided to push every cent I had and borrow a fortune to open a restaurant. I employ 11 people. 5 of these are on minimum wage simply because I can’t afford to increase their wages YET! I haven’t taken a wage yet from the business nor do I forsee being able to until next summer. Between taxes, rents, rates, legal fees, bank charges, accountant fees, over heads, WAGES, advertising (this list is endless) I do wonder where some people think an employer is going to find the money to increase wages. I can’t manage to do anymore hours (I do at least 70 – 80 a week)… I don’t make any money… I work my tits off to pay my staff and then pay a heap of tax for the government to waste.
I know my business will do well eventually… I can’t wait to finally be debt free (5 years)… when I am at least I’ll know I gave it a bash instead of laying on the dole waiting for someone to hand me money. To the experts above crying on about the state of the economy… you people sat back and watched it happen and we’re all at fault for what happened. Bite the bullet and grow a set of balls… either do something about it or shut up keyboard warriors! Try a bit of support for local businesses instead of drip drying them!
I hope your business does well Garvan but it isn’t about you , it’s about businesses that could actually afford to pay staff taking advantage of the system. We are still borderline third world country whether people realise it or not. Job bridge has ensured no one in their right mind would elect that female Orc again.
Lovely pic proves siptu are a branch of government & why the forced us all into pay cuts & Haddington road agreement
I have just gone back to work after 22 years at home raising a family and later full time carer! I’m damn glad of my minimum wage! I’m not complaining I have a full time job yes its physically hard work but I’m lucky enough to have the health to do it! Lot better than being at home wondering where we can put our hands on a fiver a child needs for school! I’m happy out!
Communism. The minimum wage hurts the poor the most, but makes the middle class feel better.
What a frightening picture. The smugness on her “state pension Taniste face” and the smirk on his “tell the workers what they want to hear” face. Ireland be fearful.
Twice you responded to me Seamus and twice you have actually said nothing.
What is so wrong with merit based pay?
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