SWEDISH furniture giant Ikea has announced it will introduce the living wage for all its Irish staff.

The living wage is considered the amount a worker needs to earn to cover the basic costs of living.

In Ireland it currently stands at €11.50 per hour, almost €3 more than the current minimum wage of €8.65 per hour.

Ikea currently only has one Irish store, in Ballymun in north county Dublin.

The company announced this morning it would be introducing the living wage for all employees in Ireland and the UK.

Pernille Hagild, IKEA UK and Ireland HR Manager said: "As a values driven organisation we believe in providing a meaningful wage to our co-workers that supports the cost of living no matter where they live.

"We are committed to paying the Living Wage to our co-workers in Ireland by April 2016.

"Over coming months we will work together with the relevant organisations and authorities in Ireland to secure we deliver this in the right way in the Irish market."

Online Editors