Unite: Irish work more, pay more, and earn less
Irish workers put in more hours, pay more for goods and services, and earn less than their European counterparts according to trade union Unite.
Commenting on recent CSO figures showing that Ireland has the third highest price levels in the EU, behind only Denmark and the UK, Unite Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly said today that, when prices are factored in, Irish wages fall 16% below the EU-15 average.
At the same time, Irish workers put in more hours on the job than other Europeans.
“We already know that private sector employee compensation is 6% behind the average of the EU-15.
"But wages are just one side of the living standards coin – prices are the other, and the consumer price figures published by the CSO this month show that Irish worker face the third highest price levels in the EU. As a result, when prices are factored in Irish wages fall a staggering 16 per cent below the EU-15 average," said Mr Kelly.
“The situation is even worse if we compare Ireland to other small open economies: our nominal wages are 24 per cent below average, and 28 per cent below average when prices are factored in.
“In addition, the most recent available Eurostat figures show that Irish workers put in more hours than their Eurozone counterparts: we work a full week-and-a-half per year more than the Eurozone average.
“We work more, pay more and earn less”, Mr Kelly stated.
