Workers in the hospitality and retail sectors are still working on “poverty pay”, ICTU has claimed. 

Today, the organisation has launched a report called 'Challenging Myths and Improving Working Conditions in a Strong Economy' - which it believes will bring “perspective and balance” to public debate on the economy. 

General Secretary Owen Reidy said it is time to ask bosses to explain why they are having such “a tough time” improving working conditions. 

He does not accept the argument that jobs will be lost if workers are given a further pay rise. 

“Last year, there were 27 business failures per 10,000 [businesses] and the average over the previous 20 years was about double that,” he said. 

“That includes the great economic crash of 2008. 

“So, I think there needs to be a bit of perspective - are we really saying that our hospitality sector will fail unless it’s on poverty pay? 

“People in hospitality and retail can’t aspire to a minimum wage increase in excess of inflation?”

A waiter.

In recent years, the Government has increased the minimum wage, introduced paid sick leave and apprved pension auto enrolment. 

Mr Reidy said despite the objections of business, such reforms are “merely bringing us into line with our EU counterparts”. 

“We hear some employers state that many of these modest reforms are coming at them all at once,” he said. 

“Most, if not all, were flagged in the Programme for Government and have been staggered over years... We therefore need this discussion based on reality and not fantasy. 

“Employers in Ireland pay about half of what employers in the EU pay when it comes to taxes on labour.”

There are currently a record 2.71 million people in employment in Ireland.

Main image: A waiter with drinks.