Foreign workers being underpaid, survey shows

UNIONS presented politicians with proof yesterday of widespread foreign worker wage abuse by the Irish construction industry.

The Cork Building Group, an umbrella organisation representing 20,000 plumbers, bricklayers, electricians and plasterers across Munster, gathered wage slips proving that hundreds of foreign workers are being hired at a fraction of the agreed industry rates.

Some are being paid less than half the agreed €16.87 per hour Construction Industry Federation rate.