Welcome to the latest issue of the Employer Resources Newsletter, where you will find in-depth and expertly researched and written articles (courtesy of Adare Human Resource Management) covering key areas of employment law and best practice.
If there are any specific topics you would like covered in this publication, please forward your suggestions to Adare Human Resources Management:
info@adarehrm.ie.
If there are any specific topics you would like covered in this publication, please forward your suggestions to Adare Human Resources Management:
info@adarehrm.ie.
Newsletter Content:
- Employment Case Law – each month we review a number of interesting employment law cases and consider their implications for organisations. This month we look at Physical Agents in the Workplace. Read more >>>
- Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Decisions – each month we look at and review the decisions from the WRC. This provides a valuable insight into the types of discrimination cases before the WRC and the decisions that are issued. Read more >>>
- What to Keep an Eye Out For – what is new, changing, potentially changing or what you may have missed. Read more >>>
Did you Know?
Increase in the National Minimum Wage
In October 2019, the Government accepted a proposal from the Low Pay Commission to increase the minimum wage by 30 cent per hour. However, a decision was taken then to postpone any increase until there was greater clarity regarding Brexit and the ability of business to absorb an increase.
The Low Pay Commission is an independent body tasked with examining the appropriate rate of the statutory minimum wage. Since its establishment, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations have included increases of 50 cent in 2016, 10 cent in 2017, 30 cent in 2018 and 25 cent in 2019, which have all been accepted by Government and consequently represented an increase in the National Minimum Wage of 13.2% since 2015. These increases have resulted in Ireland having the third highest hourly National Minimum wage rate in the European Union.
Since then in late December 2019, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD, announced that the Government has now decided to increase the National Minimum Wage to €10.10 as and from 1st February 2020 due to the strong growth in earnings across the economy over the last year and thanks to greater clarity in the UK regarding their plans for Brexit.
Minister Doherty stated: "I am pleased to announce that the increase in the minimum wage to €10.10 will now come into effect in February. The minimum wage is one of a number of important measures designed to support working families, especially those on lower incomes, and shows the government’s commitment to supporting low paid workers.
"With this most recent increase in the National Minimum Wage, an employee on minimum wage who works a full 39-hour week will now receive an additional €11.70 per week, or an extra €608.40 gross per year. In fact, since 2016, a minimum wage employee working a 39-hour week has received a gross pay increase of €2,331. Since 2015, we have increased the minimum wage by 13.2% - ahead of the rate of inflation – thereby ensuring real increases in the earnings of the lower paid. All types of work should pay well and it is my determination that a job should really lift people out of poverty. The ongoing increases in the minimum wage help to ensure that happens."
In order to ensure that the increase in the minimum wage does not result in employers attracting a higher level of PRSI charge solely due to this increase, the employer PRSI threshold will increase from €386 currently to €395 as and from 1st February 2020 also.
If you require assistance with regards to the national minimum wage or notifying employees of same, contact the team at Adare Human Resource Management – info@adarehrm.ie / 01 5613594
Increase in the National Minimum Wage
In October 2019, the Government accepted a proposal from the Low Pay Commission to increase the minimum wage by 30 cent per hour. However, a decision was taken then to postpone any increase until there was greater clarity regarding Brexit and the ability of business to absorb an increase.
The Low Pay Commission is an independent body tasked with examining the appropriate rate of the statutory minimum wage. Since its establishment, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations have included increases of 50 cent in 2016, 10 cent in 2017, 30 cent in 2018 and 25 cent in 2019, which have all been accepted by Government and consequently represented an increase in the National Minimum Wage of 13.2% since 2015. These increases have resulted in Ireland having the third highest hourly National Minimum wage rate in the European Union.
Since then in late December 2019, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD, announced that the Government has now decided to increase the National Minimum Wage to €10.10 as and from 1st February 2020 due to the strong growth in earnings across the economy over the last year and thanks to greater clarity in the UK regarding their plans for Brexit.
Minister Doherty stated: "I am pleased to announce that the increase in the minimum wage to €10.10 will now come into effect in February. The minimum wage is one of a number of important measures designed to support working families, especially those on lower incomes, and shows the government’s commitment to supporting low paid workers.
"With this most recent increase in the National Minimum Wage, an employee on minimum wage who works a full 39-hour week will now receive an additional €11.70 per week, or an extra €608.40 gross per year. In fact, since 2016, a minimum wage employee working a 39-hour week has received a gross pay increase of €2,331. Since 2015, we have increased the minimum wage by 13.2% - ahead of the rate of inflation – thereby ensuring real increases in the earnings of the lower paid. All types of work should pay well and it is my determination that a job should really lift people out of poverty. The ongoing increases in the minimum wage help to ensure that happens."
In order to ensure that the increase in the minimum wage does not result in employers attracting a higher level of PRSI charge solely due to this increase, the employer PRSI threshold will increase from €386 currently to €395 as and from 1st February 2020 also.
If you require assistance with regards to the national minimum wage or notifying employees of same, contact the team at Adare Human Resource Management – info@adarehrm.ie / 01 5613594
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