Three Ireland has announced it will raise pay by a minimum of 17.4% for employees to align with the living wage foundation rates, effective 1 January.

All employees currently earning €23,000 per year will see their salaries increased to €27,000. The decision will mainly benefit those working for the mobile service operator in retail and customer service.

Employees on minimum pay with Three will have seen their wages increase 35% since 2021, and the company has also confirmed it will gift employees earning €35,000 or less a €500 One4All voucher in recognition cost-of-living challenges.

“Investing in our people is a key business strategy of ours. Our people are central to our success and we have a responsibility to support them," said Mark Redmond, chief people officer at Three Ireland.

"In recognition of this and of the incredible work our people do, we are pleased to commit to the hourly rate of €13.85 as recommended by the Living Wage Technical Group for 2023.  This is a 35% increase from our 2021 hourly rate of €10.20.

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"Furthermore, we are cognisant of the current cost of living challenges and we are supporting our employees earning €35,000 or below through a one-off voucher worth €500.”

Three employs some 1,400 people in Ireland, and announced in July that it would add 175 jobs over the next four years as it expands its customer service centre in Limerick and begins to export services to the UK.

Three Ireland (Hutchison) Ltd recorded turnover of €578.5m in reporting a loss of €26.7m last year. The company, which is owned by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, had net liabilities of €6.4m.

(Pic: Naoise Culhane Photography)