National Minimum Wage.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2006

Tuesday, 23 May 2006

Questions (268)

Arthur Morgan

Question:

322 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of the workforce earning not more than the minimum wage entitlement at present and in each year since the introduction of the minimum wage. [19092/06]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

The National Minimum Wage was introduced on 1 April 2000. The ESRI has undertaken minimum wage surveys on behalf of the Department on three occasions since then and its findings have been as follows.

Percentage of employees on *the minimum wage (in private sector, non-agricultural firms)

2001	4.3% on minimum wage
2002	4.5% on minimum wage
2005/06	5.2% on minimum wage

*This includes those on the experienced adult rate and those on the sub-minimum rates.