Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2011): Minimum Wage - overseas

Minimum labour standards in a social partnership system: the persistence of the Irish variant of Wages Councils

M. O'Sullivan and J. Wallace

Industrial Relations Journal, vol.42, 2011, p. 18-35

Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) in Ireland consist of trade union and employer representatives and independent members. They set legally binding minimum pay and conditions for low-paid workers in some sectors and exist in addition to the National Minimum Wage introduced in 2000. This article explores why the JLC system has been retained, examines its contemporary relevance, and considers its future prospects in the light of growing employer opposition.