Low paid workers cannot be scapegoated for government failures – Pearse Doherty TD
14 April 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has said that all workers must resist this cynical attempt by government to use the uncertainty around tariffs as an excuse to row back on promises to workers.
Responding to statements by Minister Jack Chamber, where he cast doubt over commitments to increase the minimum wage, the Donegal TD said the focus needs to be on investing in people and infrastructure in a way that addresses our economic competitiveness – not going after low paid workers.
Teachta Doherty said:
“The government have decided to not let a crisis go to waste and they are using the uncertainty around tariffs as an excuse to go after low paid workers and backtracker from promises to increase the minimum wage.
“This does not make economic sense. The sectors that rely heavily on minimum wage workers, by and large are not exporters but rather trade domestically.
“Going after workers in these sectors will not address our international competitiveness nor will it help sectors on the frontline deal with the impact of tariffs.
“All it will do is leave ordinary workers worse off in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“Ordinary workers, who benefit the least from so-called ‘good times’, know that they are the first on the chopping block during economic hard times. All workers must resist this cynical move by the government.
“Minimum wage is a key tool for driving up the wages for ordinary workers right across the economy. So, when the government goes after minimum wage commitments, what they’re doing is putting downward pressure on all ordinary workers in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“We have one of the highest rates of low pay in the EU. One in five workers are low paid, a figure has remained relatively unchanged after decades of broken promises from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
“We need to take our economic competitiveness back into our own hands and finally get to grip with the crises facing this country.
“There is an overlap between what people need and what our economy needs – an ambitious investment strategy in public services and infrastructure.”
