Clare TD Calls For Minimum Wage For First Year Apprentices

A Clare TD is calling for apprentices to be paid minimum wage during the early years of their respective trades.

A bill put before the Dáil by Shannon Sinn Féin TD, Donna McGettigan is seeking to amend the National Minimum Wage Act to incude construction apprentices.

Research from Connect Trade Union found 46% of apprentices earned less than €7 an hour for an extended period of time during their trade.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy McGettigan, claims low wages are leading to increasing numbers of people not completing apprenticeships.