Employment

• A part-time employee who normally works less than 20 per cent of the normal hours of the comparable full-time employee can be treated in a less favorable manner with regard to a pension scheme or arrangement.
• Since 1 July 2011, the national minimum wage for an experienced adult employee is €8.65 per hour.
• This does not mean that the national minimum wage (NMW) stops an employer from offering a higher wage.

If the employers provide food and accommodation, the following amounts are included in the minimum wage calculation:

• €54.13 for full board and lodgings per week, or €7.73 per day
• €32.14 for full board only per week, or €4.60 per day
• €21.85 for lodgings only per week, or €3.14 per day

"Working hours" include:

• Overtime
• Travel time where this is part of the job
• Time spent on training authorized by the employer and during normal working hours

"Working hours" does not include:

• Time spent on standby other than at the workplace
• Time on leave, lay-off, strike or after payment in lieu of notice
• Time spent travelling to or from work

• An employee who is under 18 is entitled to €6.06 per hour (this is 70% of the minimum wage)
• An employee who is in the first year of employment since the age of 18 is entitled to €6.92 per hour (80% of minimum wage)
• First one-third of training course €6.49 per hour (75% of national minimum wage rate)
• Second one-third of training course €6.92 per hour (80% of national minimum wage rate)
• Final one third of the training course €7.79 per hour (90% of national minimum wage rate)