If your business employs staff, don’t forget that the National Minimum Wage increased on 1 January 2016.
The standard minimum wage for an experienced adult employee is now €9.15 per hour.
Youth rates
Lower minimum wage rates apply to employees under 18 years old and to those who have recently turned 18.
The minimum wage for a worker:
- under 18 is €6.41 per hour (70% of the adult minimum wage).
- in their first year of employment since their 18th birthday is €7.32 per hour (80% of the adult minimum wage).
- in their second year of employment since their 18th birthday is €8.24 per hour (90% of the adult minimum wage).
Apprentices & Trainees
The new minimum wage rates for an apprentice or other trainee are as follows:
- First one-third of training course €6.86 per hour (75% of national minimum wage rate)
- Second one-third of training course €7.32 per hour (80% of national minimum wage rate)
- Final one third of the training course €8.24 per hour (90% of national minimum wage rate).
If you employ staff, it is your responsibility to ensure you are complying with the updated minimum wage law, by paying all staff members at least the applicable minimum wage.
The WorkplaceRelations.ie website answers many of the key Frequently Asked Questions on how the minimum wage works.
If you have any doubts on any aspect of how the minimum wage works in practice, I recommend you obtain professional advice.