Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2010
32 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the total number of persons who earn less than the national minimum wage, by virtue of a number of exemptions provided by the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; if the cut in the hourly rate, provided for in the four year plan, will be applied to these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45527/10]
View answerI assume the Question relates to the number of employees who are paid sub-minimum rates under the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 by virtue of them being under the age of 18 or undergoing recognised training. Estimates from the Earnings, Hours and Employment Costs Survey, as undertaken by the Central Statistics Office, indicate that there were approximately 52,000 employees paid at or below the national minimum wage of €8.65 per hour as of the second quarter of 2010. This represented 3.4% of all employees. The available data does not distinguish between those on the adult minimum wage and those on sub-minimum rates, i.e. under 18s and trainees. As the sub-minimum hourly rates are calculated as a percentage of the national minimum hourly rate of pay, any reduction in the rate will apply pro rata to the sub-minimum rates.
