The Government has been asked to consider scrapping the minimum pay rates of the national minimum wage, which are paid to young people.
The Mandate Trade Union has called for the removal of the “discriminatory” and “outdated” lower rates.
Mandate claimed that the rates were conceptualised on the false assumptions that younger workers can be subsidised by their parents.
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Since January 1, 2023, the national minimum wage is €11.30 per hour but some people get sub-minimum rates, such as those aged under 20.
The minimum rates are currently €7.91 an hour for under 18s, €9.04 an hour for 18-year-olds, and €10.17 for 19-year-olds.
Mandate Assistant General Secretary Jonathan Hogan, explained: "It's simply not acceptable that a 17-year-old in retail gets 30% less per hour worked than a 20-year-old simply by virtue of their age."
Mr Hogan called the wage rates for younger workers "old-fashioned" and stated the Mandate Trade Union will continue to campaign to ensure the sub-minimum wage rates for under 20s are scrapped for good.
"The outdated and old-fashioned concept of sub-minimum wage rates for younger workers needs to end and Mandate will be campaigning to ensure that this happens," he added.
This age-based system was introduced following recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission in 2017 on subminimum rates of the National Minimum Wage.
The commission believes that the existing National Minimum Wage youth rates should also be applied to a living wage.
While holding the position of Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar asked The Low Pay Commission to examine the issues around keeping or abolishing the youth rates.
Speaking to RTÉ, a department spokesperson said: "Last year, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment requested the Low Pay Commission to examine the issues around retaining or removing the youth rates and to make recommendations on the subject."
Under preliminary recommendations in 2022, the LPC suggested that the living wage is applied equally to the entire country and that there is no regional variation in rates.
The Low Pay Commission continuously reviews the living wage to ensure its sufficiency in providing an acceptable standard of living, and is due to submit their report and recommendations on youth rates in late 2023.
In November, the Government agreed to the introduction of a new national 'living wage' to replace the minimum wage by 2026.
They said they are also exploring other avenues to help manage this demand, which they hope to launch in early 2023.
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