Construction unions vote to cut minimum wage by 7.5%

CONSTRUCTION unions have voted to accept a recommendation by the Labour Court that the minimum wage in the industry be dropped by 7.5%.

The pay cut will affect 70,000 people who are still employed in construction, a drop of more than 100,000 on the numbers who would have been employed just three years ago.

At the start of July, the Labour Court ruled the legally binding rates which are set under a Registered Employment Agreement (REA) for the sector should be cut by 7.5% and the reduction should also apply to pay-related allowances.