Members of Ireland's largest electrical contractors' trade association have come up with a bold rescue plan to work one hour for free per day in a bid to save jobs in the industry.

The National Electrical Contractors association said it has been made aware of the plan by employers, who have come forward saying that many electricians have opted to work for 34 hours per week, and work an additional five hours for free.

Denis Judge from the NECI said: "Due to the fact that neither government nor unions have seen fit to do anything to sustain jobs in this sector other than to continue calling for wage increases, and nonsensical anti-employment, anti-competitive regulations and they have failed to listen to the needs of the industry and the pleadings of industry’s distress calls, these ‘patriotic’ electricians have taken matters into their own hands, to fight for their right to work."

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Meanwhile, the NECI has called for the Electrical Registered Employment Agreement (REA) to be scrapped as it is "detrimental to both employment and competitiveness", within the industry.

"This agreement does not have an 'inability to pay' clause therefore it does not recognise excessive labour costs. Furthermore, it does not have any mechanism within it to introduce, or implement any reduction on the hourly rate, on the contrary, it only allows for wage increases," Mr Judge continued.

"This agreement binds the 5,257 Irish registered electrical contractors to all its terms in relation to pay and conditions for electricians, apprentice electricians working in that industry," he added.

The NECI say the slowdown in the construction industry and increasing competition from out-of-state contracting firms not bound by the REA are forcing an increasing number of electrical contracting firms to breach the agreement in order to remain viable and competitive to secure and maintain employment for employees within the sector.

The association says the interim approach will help prevent job losses in the industry.

(PR/BMcC)