‘Workers in the north falling behind’, says Sinn Féin Waterside representative Sharon McLaughlin

The gulf in wages across Ireland, which already sees southern workers earn 21% more than their northern counterparts, will continue to widen without all-Ireland integration, Sinn Féin Waterside representative Sharon McLaughlin  has said.

The comments come following the latest publication of figures by the Central Statistics Office.

Sharon McLaughlin said: “The figures show that a worker in the south makes 21% more than a worker in the north. Over a year this amounts to a difference of over £5,000.

“With the effects of Brexit, hard or soft, workers in the north can expect to see this gap widen over the next 15 years.

"Greater all-Ireland integration is vital if workers across the island are to share in the benefits of prosperity.”