Labour promises to introduce living wage of €11.30 p/h

Labour said it will ensure that the Government itself and all State bodies become living wage employers.

“Under the Lansdowne Road Agreement we are unwinding the emergency public sector pay cuts, focusing on the lowest-paid public servants first,” Minister Ged Nash said.

“We will make the living wage a pay floor across the public sector.”

Launching its plan in Dublin city today, the party said it would provide 50,000 apprenticeship places and 100,000 free part-time education places.

The launch, which began about 30 minutes late, was presented by local TD Joe Costello, Tánaiste Joan Burton and junior jobs minister Ged Nash.

Our political broadcast is on air tonight, watch it here firsthttps://t.co/8DnwWDhBYZ

— The Labour Party (@labour) February 8, 2016

The party is also proposing to reduce the student contribution for third level to €500, capping it at €2,500 by 2017.

This academic year, the maximum student contribution was €3,000.

Legislation to clamp down on bogus self-employment, zero-hour contracts and low-hour contracts is also promised by the party.

Speaking at the launch, Nash said: "We've reversed Fianna Fáil's miserable €1 cut in the minimum wage...but in the next Government we would do more."

We have raised the minimum wage twice since 2011. We will introduce a living wage of €11.30 an hour by 2021. #ge16 pic.twitter.com/M4k6f1U5vK

— The Labour Party (@labour) February 9, 2016

Labour launched its plan this morning at the housing charity Cluid, which is a living wage employer, paying staff a minimum of €11.50 per hour.