Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
70. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the pay and conditions of electricians and apprentice electricians working in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62108/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2021 the Labour Court prepared a proposal for a Sectoral Employment Order for the employees and apprentices in the electrical contracting sector. Sectoral Employment Orders (SEOs) are legally binding orders and require employers in the specific sector to provide staff with minimum rates of pay and pension contributions.
SEOs can be established following a request from a trade union or an employer’s organisation to the Labour Court to review issues such as the pay, pension or sick pay scheme for workers in a particular sector. The Labour Court can then conduct an examination for that sector, and make a recommendation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to establish an SEO for the sector. When the Minister signs an SEO, the Labour Court’s recommendations become legally binding across the sector.
On 1 February 2022, following the recommendation by the Labour Court I signed a Sectoral Employment Order into effect for the electrical contracting sector. This Order set a statutory minimum rate of pay starting from €24.14 per hour for employees and between 35% and 80% of that minimum rate for apprentices.
However, in October 2022 the Order was set aside by the High Court and accordingly there is currently no Sectoral Employment Order for electrical contractors in place. However, it is open for either employers or employee representatives to request that the Labour Court prepare a new proposal for a Sectoral Employment Order.
In general, SEOs provide fair and sustainable rates of remuneration for employees and help create a level playing field for contractors competing in the sectors concerned.
