Brian O'Shea
Ceist:156 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals she has to tackle the problem of low paid employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1072/01]
Vol. 529 No. 1
156 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals she has to tackle the problem of low paid employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1072/01]
My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, was the first Minister to introduce national minimum wage legislation to tackle the issue of low pay. The National Minimum Wage Act, 2000, came into force on 1 April 2000 and the national minimum hourly rate of pay has been set at £4.40. An ESRI impact study published in June 1999 estimated that 163,000 employees, particularly women and young workers, would benefit from the introduction of the legislation.