ICTU Recommends 4%-7% Pay Increases for Private Sector Workers in 2025 The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is advising unions representing private sector workers to negotiate pay increases of 4% to 7%, where businesses can afford it, for 2025.
This recommendation follows a unanimous agreement by ICTU’s private sector committee and is outlined in its new pay guide for unions.
Beyond pay increases, unions are encouraged to advocate for additional improvements in worker conditions, considering the profitability and competitiveness of businesses. These include:
- Raising new entrant pay rates.
- Securing and protecting weekly working hours.
- Leveraging measures like the Small Benefits Exemption Scheme.
Unions are also advised to pursue enhanced benefits such as reduced working hours, more annual leave, improved sick and family leave provisions, and better pension benefits.
"We’ve just come out of a general election where the cost of living ranked as the second most important issue for voters," said ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy.
He emphasized that private sector workers are still grappling with the erosion of purchasing power caused by high inflation in recent years. "Despite slower price inflation, the average private sector worker is worse off today than three years ago," he noted.
Reidy stressed that, in the context of Ireland’s booming economy and record employment levels, achieving meaningful pay increases through collective bargaining is essential.
ICTU also reiterated its criticism of the Government for not fully implementing the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, which aims to reduce working poverty and promote collective bargaining.
However, the Department of Enterprise maintains that Ireland's existing framework for setting minimum wages is largely compliant with the directive and that additional legislation on collective bargaining is unnecessary.
Source: Media