Minimum Wage Cut is Our 'Day of Shame'

10 Dec 2010

Congress General Secretary David Begg has condemned the vote to cut the Minimum Wage and said it represented Ireland's "day of shame."

Mr Begg said: "The decision by Government TDs and their supporters to take €40 per week from the pockets of the working poor has seen them go below a threshold of decency that we had established in this society.

"There is no economic, social, political or moral justification for the cut. It will not create one job or save the exchequer one cent.

Mr Begg said it was telling that while some in Government had tried to lay the blame at the door of those involved in Ireland's bank bailout, the IMF itself had categorically denied it had sought or proposed cutting the Minimum Wage.

"In fact, Mr Ajaj Chopra has confirmed - in a November 29 interview on Morning Ireland - that a cut to the Minimum Wage rate was not tied to any release of the loan funds," Mr Begg pointed out.

"By cutting the rate the Government is pandering to the worst gombeen elements in the Irish business class. Be very sure that the €40 per week that will be taken from the pockets of the working poor will go straight into the pockets of the worst employers in Irish society."

Mr Begg said that Congress would do all in its power to ensure the cut is reversed. He also said Congress would name and shame all TDs that had voted to in favour of targeting the working poor.

 

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