05/07/2011

Employers Group Urges Pay Freeze

A group representing Irish employers has told its members to continue operating pay freezes for at least the next year.

The Irish Business and Employers Council (IBEC) published its latest pay survey on Monday calling for pay freezes to continue in 2011 and 2012.

The group said that companies should "not entertain" pay claims given the economic climate.

IBEC director of industrial relations, Brendan McGinty said: “The vast majority of firms had wage freezes in both 2009 and 2010, and this trend is set to continue for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012.

"Seven out of 10 companies expect no change or a fall in their 2011 pay bill, with 73% freezing basic wage rates. The average expected change to basic pay rates in 2011 is flat at -0.12%, and about 6% of companies are planning pay reductions."

Mr McGinty added that early indicators for 2012 showed two thirds of companies expected their pay bill to stay the same or reduce, with 67% planning to freeze basic wage rates.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to deliver the keynote address at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions biennial conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, on Monday afternoon.

Mr Kenny is expected to address the issues of pay, jobs, the economy, collective bargaining rights, social partnership and controversial reforms of Joint Labour Committee wage systems for 200,000 low paid workers.

(DW/BMcC)

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