Ikea already pays above the minimum wage in Ireland with its hourly rates starting from €9.77.
3. Look at the hourly minimum wage for the following European countries: France €9.47 Spain €5.08 Greece €3.41. Why do you think the minimum wage varies in different countries?
4. If Ikea employs 500 people in Ireland and the employees all work a 40-hour week for €9.77 per hour, calculate the company’s weekly wage bill.
Campaigners have put the living wage for Ireland at €11.50 per hour, although it’s not yet known on what basis Ikea will calculate its rate.
However in the UK, where it became the first major retailer to commit to paying a living wage, it has said it would pay all 9,000 staff at least £7.85 (€11.28) per hour.
Ikea said the rate for London would be £9.15 (€13.14) per hour. 5. Why do you think Ikea pays its workers in London more?
