Retail Excellence says some businesses won't survive if the minimum wage is increased to €15 an hour.
A private members motion is due before the Dail this morning, calling for the minimum wage to rise from €10.50
People Before Profit, who are proposing the motion, says low paid workers are struggling to survive due to the increasing cost of living.
But Managing Director of Retail Excellence, Duncan Graham, says a 50% increase in the minimum wage could cause many small businesses to close down.
"Retailers over the last few months and indeed the last couple of years have been facing into enormous cost increases, like everybody else.
"And frankly, if we're then going to turn around and put the minimum wage up to sitting in the region of 15 Euro, then it's going to make many small businesses across the country, just not viable."
