The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has issued a call for a 'generous' wage settlement ahead of tomorrow's resumption of partnership talks.
Congress economic advisor Paul Sweeney said conditions for a generous wage settlement have never been better, particularly with Irish business enjoying record profit levels.
Trade unions have been negotiating for increased protection for workers with employers and government following a series of disputes with companies such as Irish Ferries, which moved to replace local workers with cheaper foreign labour last year.
The parties have reached a draft agreement on a range of measures designed to address union concerns about the exploitation of migrant workers and job displacement, allowing the focus to move to the issue of pay when talks resume tomorrow.
Mr Sweeney said today that Irish business has "never had it so good: many firms are enjoying double digit profit levels, while business here pays far less tax and social contributions than their European counterparts. They can afford a generous wage settlement.
Employers are concerned unions will demand large pay increases to take account of Ireland's rising inflation, which picked up to an annual 3.5 percent in March versus 2.1 percent in the same month last year.
"According to sources like the Economist, Ireland has one of the best business environment's in the world, ahead of countries like Britain, the US and Hong Kong," Mr Sweeney said. In addition, Mr Sweeney said, a wage increase would also have to compensate workers for wage degradation caused by exploitation and failure to observe and enforce good employment standards.
