More than 10% of workers in Ireland are paid the national minimum wage of €9.25 an hour or less, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The study finds that women are more likely than men to be on low pay, and that the national minimum wage predominates in services like retail, accommodation and food.

Meanwhile, a recent union study revealed that some top private sector executives awarded themselves pay increases of up to 238%.

The CSO data shows that non-Irish nationals are more likely than Irish nationals to be stuck on minimum wage, as are young workers, part-timers, and those with lower levels of education. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for the implementation of a ‘living wage’ of €11.50 an hour. This is the pay rate deemed necessary to meet basic living needs.