Penneys has agreed to give its staff a 3% pay rise. Management are also scrapping a lower rate of pay for under-18s, and will guarantee workers a minimum number of hours.

Mandate trade union members there voted by 76% in favour of a new employment deal.

Contained in the agreement is a new banded hours structure, which the union says will guarantee workers a minimum threshold of hours of work, so that they have a steady level of income which will put "decent work on the agenda for their workforce".

The company were also looking to introduce a new lower wage scale for new entrants. But this was rejected by Mandate and the position of the union was upheld in a recommendation from the Labour Court.

Penneys employs some 4,500 people in Ireland.

Mandate Divisional Organiser is Joe Donnelly. He says it is vital people working in retail take home a decent wage.