Youth

Irish presidency must end ‘bank of mum and dad’ traineeships

Trade unions are calling on the Irish government to use its presidency of the European Union to ensure that young people from all backgrounds can take important first steps in their careers. Seanad Éireann heard recently how unpaid internships mean that many opportunities are “only available to...

Government must end pay discrimination against young people

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has urged Government to end pay discrimination, and called for Oireachtas members to back Senator Nessa Cosgrove’s National Minimum Wage (Inclusion of Young persons, Apprentices and Interns) Bill 2025. The bill seeks to bring the minimum wage for workers aged under...

Congress Youth launch Your Rights at Work guide for young workers

The Congress Youth Committee has launched an online guide aimed at informing young workers in Ireland about their rights at work. Titled Your Rights at Work , the guide is designed as a living document, which will be continuously updated to reflect changes in employment law and workers’ rights. This...

Your Rights at Work

05 Jun, 2025

Your Rights at Work is an accessible and practical resource for empowering young workers by clearly outlining their entitlements – including their right to join a trade union..

May Day / Minimum Wage @ 25 seminar material

May Day is an important day in the trade union calendar with lots of events vying for your attention. We are honoured so many of you chose to join us to mark the 25th anniversary of Ireland's minimum wage. When our committee of private sector unions started to plan this event it was intended it...

PSU joined a delegation from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Youth Committee in Brussels on 3 and 4 March 2025 to advocate for a strong Traineeship Directive.

Young workers need a Traineeship Directive that protects the most vulnerable

EPSU joined a delegation from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Youth Committee in Brussels on 3 and 4 March 2025 to advocate for a strong T raineeship D irective. On 3 March, the delegation visited the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), where they met with General Secretary Esther...

Trade union movement welcomes LPC recommendation to abolish lower minimum wage rules for younger workers

General Secretary Owen Reidy said the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and its affiliated trade unions very much welcome the unanimous recommendation of the Low Pay Commission to abolish sub-minimum wage rates for all young workers."This is an issue trade unions have been campaigning on for many years...

Opening Statement on the Regulatory and Legislative changes required for Transposition of Adequate Minimum Wages Directive

24 Jan, 2024

Owen Reidy, General Secretary addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the Regulatory and Legislative Changes required for the Transposition of the Adequate and Minimum Wages on 24 January 2024. Watch the Committee meeting here: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en...

ICTU call for an increase of €2 to the national minimum wage

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has argued in its submission to the Low Pay Commission that the national minimum wage should be increased in January 2024 by €2 to €13.30. Owen Reidy General Secretary of Congress said “low paid workers on the national minimum wage are hurting disproportionately in...

Opening statement to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Congress opening statement to Joint Oireachtas Committee on CEDIY Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny of The Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020 [Private Members Bill] (sponsored by Mary Lou McDonald T.D. and Louise O’Reilly T.D.)