Youth exploitation

Two out of every five construction apprentices are paid below the National Minimum Wage (NMW), according to the UCATT construction union.

In the Birmingham area, UCATT assisted apprentices being paid below the NMW wage who were employed by a social housing repairs organisation. The union secured a pay rise for the workers in that area and for all apprentices working for the company nationally.

The union said it frequently assists apprentices and young workers who have been exploited or mistreated in the workplace.

An apprentice in the North West was laid off for seven weeks from their workplace and risked losing their college placement as he couldn’t complete part of his course.

Once UCATT became involved the union learned that the reason the apprentice had been laid off was because they had turned 18 and the employer was obliged to pay £40 a day rather than £20 a day. UCATT was also able to find the apprentice a new employer.

www.ucatt.org.uk/ucatt-highlights-apprentice-exploitation-during-young-workers-month