The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Joan Burton has criticised a call from the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) for a 12 month pay freeze for building workers and for the entry level rates of pay for new employees to be cut by over 30%.

Deputy Burton called on the government to reject the proposals and make it clear that they will not form part of the agenda of talks for a new national pay agreement.

She said: "I accept that the construction sector will face more difficult times over the coming period, but workers on moderate rates of pay should not be the ones to be asked to pick up the tab for problems that were created largely as a result of government policies.

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"Construction companies have made huge profits over the past decade and they should be able to survive a period of downturn without penalising workers," she added.

Ms Burton claimed that the CIF effort seems to be part of a "concerted attack" by employers on measures designed to ensure minimum standards and pay and conditions across a number of sectors.

"We have seen Irish companies use flags of convenience on vessels serving Irish ports to avoid minimum pay legislation. We have had the legal case taken by hoteliers challenging the fixing by the Labour Court of minimum wage levels for that sector," she said.

"The government must reject these moves and defend the principle of basic pay and conditions for all workers."

(VB/JM)