Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

It would be a simple amendment to get rid of section 5(b) of the National Minimum Wage Act, which exempts apprentices. We would also have to get rid of sub-minimum wage rates for those aged under 20. Again this week, the Low Pay Commission has come out and said it is an urgent matter but the Government is saying it will not consider it until 2029. Do apprentices feel they are being treated like second-class citizens and second-class workers because they are paid €8 an hour in some cases, which is a fraction of the minimum wage?