Many minimum wage workers who have lost their jobs are better off on welfare if receiving the €350 per week Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, according to a new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute.
Around 8% of employees in the Irish workforce are currently on the minimum wage of €10.10 per hour. Of those, more than half work in the retail, accommodation and food sectors, which have experienced widespread business closures during the coronavirus crisis.
Minimum wage earners are also more likely to be women, work part-time, be non-Irish nationals, and aged 15-24. The ESRI report notes that the flat-rate €350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment introduced on 16 March to address the surge in unemployment is higher than the