Sherlock condemns Taoiseach for his broken promises on apprentices’ pay

Labour Senator and spokesperson on workers’ rights, Marie Sherlock, has sharply criticised Taoiseach Simon Harris for failing to ensure apprentices are paid a fair wage that will encourage more people to take up the trades and ensure we have the skilled labour to deal with the housing crisis.

Senator Sherlock said:

“As Minister for Further and Higher Education, the now Taoiseach, Simon Harris, committed to addressing the scandal of poverty pay for apprentices, many of whom start on a fraction of the national minimum wage. He failed to live up to his promises leaving many thousands of apprentices in poverty.

“As Taoiseach, he must now put his money where his mouth is and pay apprentices fairly from day one. No excuses and no more broken promises. It is essential for the Taoiseach, to even meet his own housing targets to finally get to grips with this crisis and provide apprentices with the support and resources they need to not only survive but thrive and help build the homes we need.”

Senator Sherlock was speaking in response to the preliminary results of the National Craft Apprentices Survey released by Connect Trade Union. The survey has highlighted major issues such as delays in training and poverty pay rates, which are driving many young people out of the trades.

The survey found that a significant number of apprentices are not receiving the necessary support and training in the workplace, leading to a high dropout rate of nearly 20%.

“The preliminary results of this survey are alarming and point to a deep crisis brewing in the apprenticeship system. It is unacceptable that over a quarter of apprentices say they are paid below the correct minimum pay rates with some experiencing delays of up to three years in completing their apprenticeships. This not only impacts the young workers directly affected but also undermines the possibility of addressing the housing crisis in this country.”

Senator Sherlock said that there is a real need for immediate action to address these issues and called on the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education to take urgent steps to reform the apprenticeship system and ensure all apprentices will receive the national minimum wage from the start.

“Comparisons are often made between apprentices and students who don’t get paid while studying. However, this is simply a wrong comparison, apprentices work full time jobs, pay taxes on their pay and in many cases come from backgrounds where families are unable to help support them but they are eligible for no state grants. We need more craft apprentices if we are ever to resolve the housing crisis, we need to be encouraging people into the trades not driving them out.”

Senator Sherlock commended Connect Trade Union for their efforts to highlight these issues and for encouraging more women to enter the trades and for their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the industry.