February 18th: Trade union Unite today said that the next Government must face down the employers’ lobbies and increase Employer’s PRSI. The call came as new figures show that Irish labour market benefits are the second-lowest in the EU.

Commenting, Unite Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly said:

“The latest figures published by careers website Glassdoor will come as no surprise to Unite members. From paid maternity leave to unemployment benefit, Irish labour market benefits are near the bottom of the EU-15 league table.

“There is a direct correlation between our low level of labour market benefits – the ‘social wage’ – and our super-low levels of Employer’s PRSI, which are among the lowest in the EU.

“Increasing Employer’s PRSI to just the EU average would yield an additional €8 billion to invest in the services and supports on which workers depend. This would not only benefit the workers directly affected – it would also inject cash into the economy to help drive domestic demand – thus securing the jobs of other workers.

“Unite will be calling on the next Government to face down the employers’ lobbies and increase Employer’s PRSI”, Jimmy Kelly concluded.