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The report called “Decent work? The Impact of the Recession on low paid workers”, says the Irish Government needs to re-examine proposed changes to wage setting mechanisms and implementation of EU Directive on part-time working.

Head of UNI Commerce, Alke Boessiger said, “We stand in solidarity with Mandate members, who like their brothers and sisters across the world, are taking the brunt of misguided government austerity measures. We join with Mandate in urging the Irish government to think again about these specific proposals which threaten to stabilise not only workers’ lives but the Irish commerce sector.”

Almost four out of ten Mandate Trade Union members have reported a fall in take home pay over the last year, with the average fall being €109 per week. Falling wages are driven primarily by cuts in the working hours of retail workers as well as increased taxes and levies.



Mandate Trade Union represents over 45,000 workers in the retail trade – which is now the largest sector of employment in the Irish economy.

The report reveals that:



• 39% of Mandate’s members reported a fall in take home pay over the last year, with an average fall of €109 per week;

• Since 2011, on average, retail workers’ hours have declined by 4.3%. For part-time workers the decrease was 5.6% and for student workers it was 12.9%;

• The majority of Mandate members are on part-time contracts working an average of 22 hours per week. Over half of these work their hours over at least five days;

• Six in ten Mandate members were willing and able to work extra hours in order to make ends meet. Less than half of the part-time employees who asked for more hours got them;

• Many retail workers’ hours are subject to frequent change: for example, almost half of part-time workers have their working hours changed at least once a month, while only a third have stable working hours.



The report also revealed the impact the declining income and changing conditions are having on individuals and families:



• Around a third of Mandate members are finding it difficult to adequately feed and clothe their families, and to pay off household loans. Four in ten are experiencing difficulty paying their mortgage or rent, over half are struggling to pay utility bills;

• More than seven in ten reported that they had cut back on their spending so much that they can afford little or no social activities and that they are now far less likely to visit a doctor because they could not afford the cost;

• Three-quarters said that they are finding it more difficult to cope in general and suffer much more stress than a few years ago;

• Around one in ten had got a second job, and 17% had started to claim a social welfare payment. For a significant proportion, these options weren’t available: 11% of members reported that changes in their working patterns had made it more difficult for them to qualify for social welfare, and 13% said these had made it harder for them to secure another job;

• Around three in ten borrowed money from a credit union and from close family or friends, some had borrowed from more than one source





Mandate’s General Secretary John Douglas said, “This research shows that Ireland’s labour market crisis will not be solved with a more jobs at any cost strategy. We need to look at the quality of jobs that are being created otherwise we will just increase the number of working poor.”

Read the full report here