For 2025, the national minimum wage related to a normal working week was:

Age 18 years and over                     €221.78

Age 17 years                                   €215

Under 17 years                                    €212.16​

• There are other different minimum wages that are applicable to different jobs within specific industrial sectors. Every employee is entitled to statutory bonuses and weekly allowances.
• Furthermore, every worker is entitled to a cost of living increase. A full-time employee is entitled to the full increase, while a part-time employee is entitled to part of the cost of living increase in proportion to the hours worked.

Payment of wages

• Wages should be paid at regular intervals not exceeding 4 weeks in arrears, however, different periods of pay can be agreed in a collective agreement.
• An employer is not allowed to make deductions from the employee’s wage except where permitted by law or by an order of a competent court. However, if it is agreed in a collective agreement or specified in a contract of employment or written statement and authorised by the Director of Industrial and Employment Relations, the employer can impose fines on his/her employees. Fines also include suspension without pay or with reduced pay.
• If the employer fails to pay the employee wages due, a complaint can be lodged at the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations.

Overtime

The employer can oblige an employee to work overtime:

1.  when the total hours of work do not exceed an average of 48 hours a week, and
2.  when an employee has consented in writing to work over such an average. Such consent can be withdrawn by the employee provided that a written notice of at least 7 days or such longer period not exceeding 3 months as may be agreed between the parties, is given to the employer.

Employees are not obliged to work overtime:

1. During pregnancy
2. For a period of 12 months from either the birth of his or her child or from the effective date of the adoption of a child.