Legislation Update: Electrical Contracting and Construction

The Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English TD signed a Statutory Instrument giving legal effect to a recommendation from the Labour Court for new minimum pay rates to workers in the electrical contracting sector.

Minister English said:

“I have signed this Sectoral Employment Order into law following its approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas. This Order sets new minimum rates of pay, pension and sick pay entitlements for workers in the Electrical Contracting Sector following a review by the Labour Court. It is an important move to ensure the sector remains competitive, productive, and sustainable and will help assist with the delivery of the National Development Plan, the Housing for All strategy, and the measures contained in the Climate Action Plan.”

New Sectoral Employment Orders for Electrical Contracting and Construction sectors.

Effective from 1 February 2022, there are new basic hourly rates of pay for electrical contractors and construction employees as per the recently enacted Sectoral Employment Orders (SEO) in the Electrical contracting and construction sectors.

Electrical Contracting SEO

The following basic hourly rates of pay will apply in the Electrical Contracting sector from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023.

Basic Hourly Rates of Pay from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023
Category 1, First year out of time Category 2, Third year out of time Category 3, Sixth year out of time Apprentice Apprentice Apprentice Apprentice	€24.14 per hour €24.63 per hour €25.02 per hour Year 1 – 35% of Category 1 Rate Year 2 – 45% of Category 1 Rate Year 3 - 65% of Category 1 Rate Year 4 - 80% of Category 1 Rate
Ref: Gov.ie

Basic Hourly Rates of Pay from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023

Category 1, First year out of time

Category 2, Third year out of time

Category 3, Sixth year out of time

Apprentice

€24.14 per hour

€24.63 per hour

€25.02 per hour

Year 1 – 35% of Category 1 Rate

Year 2 – 45% of Category 1 Rate

Year 3 - 65% of Category 1 Rate

Year 4 - 80% of Category 1 Rate

Ref: Gov.ie

Construction Sector SEO

The following basic hourly pay rates will apply in the sector from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023.

Please note that the construction sector also relates to craft persons such as Bricklayers/Stone Layers; Carpenters and Joiners; Floor Layers; Glaziers; Painters; Plasterers; Stone Cutters; Wood Machinists; Slaters and Tilers.

Basic Hourly Rates of Pay from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023
Craftsperson Category A Worker Category B Worker Apprentice – Year 1 Apprentice – Year 2 Apprentice – Year 3 Apprentice – Year 4	€20.52 per hour €19.91 per hour €18.47 per hour 33.33% of Craft Rate 50% of Craft Rate 75% of Craft Rate 90% of Craft Rate
Minister English approves Labour Court recommendation for new minimum pay rates in the Construction Sector (Gov.ie)

Basic Hourly Rates of Pay from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023

Craftsperson

Category A Worker

Category B Worker

Apprentice – Year 1

Apprentice – Year 2

Apprentice – Year 3

Apprentice – Year 4

€20.52 per hour

€19.91 per hour

€18.47 per hour

33.33% of Craft Rate

50% of Craft Rate

75% of Craft Rate

90% of Craft Rate

Minister English approves Labour Court recommendation for new minimum pay rates in the Construction Sector

(Gov.ie)

Every employer employing workers to whom the Order applies must have in place a Pension Scheme, Death in service scheme and a sick pay scheme for each employee covered in the Order. The Scheme shall be independently administered and monitored and can be part of or separate to the pension scheme. For assistance with getting this setup and running please reach out to the payroll services department.