Some farm workers and meat factory employees from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are set to get a €2,691 pay rise from 1 March, 2026.

New minimum salary thresholds for work permit holders from outside the EEA were announced last week by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke.

The new minimum salary threshold for work permit holders employed in meat processing and the horticulture sector – in addition to healthcare assistants and home carers – increases from €30,000 to €32,691.

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This is a 9% lift in wages.

In addition, the minimum salary for general employment permits will rise from €34,000 to €36,605, while the minimum salary for critical skills employment permits will increase from €38,000 to €40,904.

The increase in wage levels follows the publication of a new strategy on wage levels for work permit holders.

The Roadmap for Minimum Annual Remuneration Salary Thresholds outlines that further increases will follow on a phased basis through to 2030, following the pay lifts in March next year.

It had initially been proposed that the full increases would come into effect in 2026.

“The intention of this roadmap is to strengthen Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting the vital skills and talent our economy needs – especially in sectors like healthcare and construction,” said Minister Burke.

“To balance the rights of workers with the needs of businesses, the changes will be introduced on a phased basis. This will give all sectors sufficient time to prepare,” he added.

Salary floor

Meanwhile, SIPTU has called on the Government to ensure that all workers in low-paid industries such as agriculture, food processing and healthcare benefit from a new floor on annual salaries for non-EEA permit holders.

“Our union welcomes the increase in the minimum salary for non-EEA employment permit holders,” said SIPTU deputy general secretary Greg Ennis.

However, it is unacceptable that some workers already employed in Ireland should receive less than this minimum salary floor while carrying out the same role as permit holders,” he added.