SIPTU has called on the Government to honour a commitment to present legalisation to tackle the practice of paying apprentices less than the national minimum wage, in order to combat youth poverty and ensure there is enough skilled workers to carry out major state infrastructure projects including home building.
SIPTU Construction Sector Organiser, Fran McDonnell, said: “Apprentices are not a burden on employers, they are workers who contribute every day and deserve to be paid at least the minimum wage. Keeping pay at sub-minimum levels makes apprenticeships financially unsustainable and is pushing people away from careers in jobs the country urgently needs.
