Craft Apprentices Facing Low Pay and Course Delays: A National Scandal
A recent survey conducted by Connect Trade Union has shed light on the struggles faced by craft apprentices in Ireland. Shockingly, 46% of respondents reported being paid less than €7 per hour during their apprenticeship, with over a quarter receiving less than the agreed minimum pay rates.
Furthermore, more than 90% revealed that they were paid below the minimum wage at some point during their training, while over half reported significant delays in completing their apprenticeship, some waiting over a year longer than expected.
Assistant General Secretary of Connect Trade Union, Brian Nolan, labeled the situation as a crisis that should be a national scandal. Despite the government touting apprenticeships as key to addressing societal challenges, such as housing and climate change, apprentices themselves are being overlooked and neglected.
The survey results, based on feedback from 802 apprentices, are being presented at Connect’s Biennial Delegate Conference and National Apprenticeship Summit in Athlone. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science has pledged to address the issue, noting a 40% increase in training capacity since January.