A new study has found that while nearly three quarters of employees aged 15-19 years old could legally be paid a rate below the minimum wage, they actually get paid more.
The research, conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and funded by the Low Pay Commission, also found that of the approximately 15,000 individuals who do receive a sub-minimum youth rate, around 80% classify themselves as students.
The current minimum wage in this country is 11.30 an hour, although this is due to increase to 12.70 in January.
But legally, employers are allowed to pay less than this to those aged under 20 years old.
Anyone under the age of 18 must receive at least 70% of the full adult minimum wage, those who are 18 must get at least 80% and those aged 19 must be paid 90%.
Once a person reaches 20 years of age, they have to receive the full adult minimum wage by law.
The results show just 5.6% or 120,000 employees in Ireland last year received the full-rate minimum wage, with 1.4% or 30,000 people being paid a sub-minimum wage.
The ESRI found just a quarter of those aged 15-19 who could be legally paid a sub-minimum rate are actually paid it, equating to just one in every 140 employees, or 15,000 individuals.
The balance are either paid a higher rate or the full minimum wage.
Just over half of those who do receive a sub-minimum youth rate are women, and more than three quarters work in either the accommodation, food or retail sectors.
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