Junior Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash says he believes the time is right for a "living wage" campaign.
Ged Nash today called a one day conference to consider the measure, under which employers would agree to pay their workers a minimum of €11.50 an hour.
The rate is based on an independent assessment of the income needed to meet people's basic needs - such as housing, food, utilities, clothing, transport, health care and some recreation.
It would be a voluntary initiative, unlike the statutory minimum wage.
The Forum on the Living Wage is scheduled to take place on the 30th September in Dublin Castle
Business groups have expressed concerns about proposals - saying they will raise unrealistic expectations among workers.
Mark O’Mahoney, the Director of Policy and Communications at Chambers Ireland, said, "the concept of a 'living wage' is itself much contested and there is no evidence that it can be widely applied to an effectively functioning high employment economy".
However Ged Nash says it was employers who approached him about bringing in the scheme:
James Doorley, Deputy Director at the National Youth Council of Ireland, welcomed the move, saying we need to "move beyond a debate solely on hourly rates.
“While a Forum to discuss these issues is welcome, it is important that Government commit to bringing forward actions and measures arising from these deliberations to address low pay and precarious employment in Ireland,” he added.
Trade Union SIPTU also welcomed the move, and said it would ensure that people throughout society benefit from the improving economy.
But Maeve McElwee of employers group IBEC says most businesses are against the idea:
