The impending minimum wage increase will "stop SMEs from expanding their workforce," according to Mark Fielding, CEO of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.
"Jobs will not be created, while SMEs are expecting cost increases, through minimum wage, sick pay, paternity and parental leave," Fielding added.
Fielding was expressing ISME's disappointment at the recent CSO Live Register Figures, and said that the slowdown in job creation is due to the expectation of increased business costs and wage pressures.
"The Government has expected business to continue creating employment, despite the serious obstacles being placed in their way," he said.
The Association called on the Government to reform the social welfare system to make it more profitable to work, to assign a welfare officer to every person who is long-termunemployed and ensure that they are offered a place on an activation scheme which they may not refuse.
“The Government must help create a positive environment in which to create jobs. This will not be achieved while government politicians, scared of losing their seats, continue to pile on costs on SMEs, in an effort to buy the election”, concluded Fielding.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Niall Swan
