Sinn Féin TD says 'living wage' is needed to address cost of living crisis

Speaking in the Dáil on a Sinn Féin proposal to introduce a 'living wage' of €12.90, local TD Brian Stanley said there was a "crisis in the cost of living" with rents and other prices soaring while wages remained static

"Sinn Féin has consistently called on consecutive governments to introduce a living wage for workers.

"A living wage is the minimum income necessary for a single person working full-time to meet their basic needs," said the Laos Offaly representative.

The minimum wage increased from €8.65 to €10.50 between 2016 and 2022, but Sinn Féin is arguing that a further increase is now needed.

"Childcare costs continue to increase, transport costs have gone up, energy costs are spiralling out of control," said Deputy Stanley.

"Most low and middle-income workers have no medical card and no access to supports such as fuel allowance or housing assistance payments. Rents are up 11.3% in Laois and 14.6% in Offaly. There is a crisis in the cost of living.

"The Living Wage Technical Group has calculated a wage of €12.90 per hour as the minimum required to ensure workers are not living in poverty. We're calling on the Government to produce a roadmap to deliver that living wage within a strict timeframe.

"Secondly, it's also vital that we address the unequal power relationship that exists between workers and employers. We need to see collective bargaining legislation introduced to give workers a legal right to be represented by a trade union. This is the only way that workers can collectively use their clout for better conditions and pay.

"Consecutive Governments have failed to introduce such legislation. This must happen now," he concluded.