The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) recommends private sector unions negotiate pay increases of 4% to 7% for 2025, emphasizing the need for additional worker benefits. General Secretary Owen Reidy highlighted the ongoing cost of living crisis and the necessity of collective bargaining to improve wages, which have yet to recover from past inflation. ICTU also criticized the Government for not fully implementing an EU directive on workers’ rights aiming to improve minimum wages. The Department of Enterprise claims current frameworks already align with EU provisions.