A recommendation to higher the minimum rates of pay for Construction Industry workers in Ireland has been approved.

As well as new minimum pay rates, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins, formally green-lit the Labour Court recommendation for new pension rates and sick pay entitlements in the Construction Industry.

The Order amends the previous Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the industry made in 2023 and is the fifth of this kind to be made since the first SEO for the Construction sector was issued in 2017.

The Sectoral Employment process is a statutory wage setting mechanism based on the principles of collective bargaining.

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It provides an independent assessment of pay rates that considers the views of all interested parties with a view of ensuring industrial harmony and competitiveness.

The Minister said: "I am very pleased to sign a new Sectoral Employment Order for the Construction Industry. I have carefully considered the statutory report that was submitted to me alongside the recommendation from the Labour Court, and, on this basis, I have formally accepted the Labour Court's recommendation and made an Order giving it statutory effect.

"I believe that these measures are clearly critically important for our economy and for the ongoing provision of quality housing. Ensuring our construction industry is strong and dynamic is an absolute priority for this government.

"This Order will also underpin continued good relations between workers and employers in the sector. It will also help maintain the attractiveness of this sector as a viable career option as apprentices will also benefit from the SEO, seeing their legal minimum pay increase as they remain in training."