Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
526. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if employers are required to pay apprentices based on time served rather than the phase of the apprenticeship; the way that his Department will ensure that employers follow this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28033/22]
View answerApprentices are primarily employees and all of the 65 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer, with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the programme.
Information on employment legislation is available from a number of sources including the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at www.enterprise.gov.ie and the Workplace Relations Commission at www.workplacerelations.ie.
The following information applies to the 25 craft apprenticeship programs currently available:
- Craft apprentices are entitled to a pay increase on the first anniversary of when they were registered as an apprentice by their employer and every subsequent anniversary after that.
- Via national social partner agreements, craft apprentices’ rates of pay are applied on an annual basis starting from the date of registration with SOLAS as a statutory apprentice and on the anniversary thereafter.
- These yearly increases are not dependent on completion of Phases 2, 4 or 6 or the passing of related exams. Employers therefore should not withhold an increase on the basis of an apprentice not having attended a particular phase of the apprenticeship or having failed an exam.
- Employers must comply with the statutory obligations imposed by the Industrial Training Act, 1967 (as amended), and any Apprenticeship Rules (which may apply in relation to the relevant programme from time to time). Apprentices are employees and apprentice employers must comply with all statutory obligations including all current employment legislation.
