Economy

A majority of Irish workers believe their pay does not fairly reflect the skills and effort they bring to their jobs, according to new polling published today by the Irish Congress of Trade Union. The IrelandThinks poll of 1,850 people reveals that 52% of workers say their current pay fails to match...

Responding to the Government’s plans to acquire childcare facilities, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said: “Scarce childcare places, unaffordable fees and high staff turnover are the direct result of the Government’s obsession with keeping business owners sweet, and their new so-called State-led...

Responding to the ongoing threat of tariffs on European nations and regional instability prompted by the Trump administration, Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary Owen Reidy said: “Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats pose a severe risk to the Irish economy, and we are deeply concerned...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has recommended unions organising workers in the private sector seek pay increases of between 4.7% and 6%, where sustainable, for 2026 The guidance was issued with the unanimous agreement of the Congress Private Sector Committee. The recommendation comes as Irish...

The Irish Congress of Trade Union has expressed its concern that the Government has included a “stealth cut” to Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit as part of the Social Welfare Bill. In last month’s budget a €10 increase to weekly social welfare payments was announced. In the days that followed, the...

Any ambiguity on the legality of the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive has been put beyond doubt, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (11 November), following a Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling. In its ruling announced today, the Court upheld in full all articles...

The Low Pay Commission unanimously recommended raising the minimum wage to €14.15 from January 1st – an increase of 65 cents on the current €13.50 hourly rate, which the Government approved in yesterday’s (Tuesday) budget. The Commission’s recommendation reflects the strong labour market and general...

“A Whopper of a Budget but the only worker to benefit is Ronald McDonald” Commenting on Budget 2026, Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary Owen Reidy said: "The reality is that Budget 2026 will hurt workers. It shortchanges minimum wage workers by €600 while it tells ordinary workers to...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions today criticised the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, saying that the plan once again leaves workers as an afterthought. ICTU said that the plan, published today by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, fails to make the positive...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions welcomes the appointment of Patricia King, former general secretary of Congress, to the board of the independent auto-enrolment authority. The National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA) will run and manage the new quasi-mandatory pension...