Tuesday 1st February 2022 saw a new Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) come into effect for the Construction Industry. The SEO defines what activities place an employer within the construction sector and what experience and qualifications place an individual in a particular worker classification.

The statutory minimum rates of pay for persons employed in the construction sector are set out, together with other conditions – sick pay, unsocial hours payments and pension entitlements.

This is the initial phase of pay rate increases and the second phase is due on the 1st of February 2023.

Basic hourly rates of pay from 1st February 2022:
Category/Classification
Rate of Pay
Class of worker
Craftsperson
€20.52 per hour
Bricklayers/Stone Layers; Carpenters and Joiners; Floor Layers; Glaziers; Painters; Plasterers; Stone Cutters; Wood Machinists; Slaters and Tilers.
Category A Worker
€19.91 per hour
Scaffolders who hold an Advanced Scaffolding Card and who have four years’ experience; Banks operatives, Steel Fixers; Crane Drivers and Heavy Machine Operators.
Category B Worker
€18.47 per hour
Skilled General Operatives who have worked in the sector for more than 2 years.
New Entrant Operative Workers
€14.93 per hour
To apply for 2 years to new entrant operative workers over the age of 18 years and entering the sector for the first time.
Apprentice Pay Rates from 1st February 2022:
Year 1
€6.84
33.3% of Craft rate
Year 2
€10.26
50% of Craft rate
Year 3
€15.39
75% of Craft rate
Year 4
€18.47
90% of Craft rate

 
Where a dispute arises, it should be notified to the employer in writing. If the issue is not resolved, individuals can take a case for adjudication to the Workplace Relations Commission and group or collective disputes can be taken to the Conciliation Service of the WRC.