Apprentices at The Education and Training Board have raised concerns about changes to their payments going ahead without their consent.
Apprentices in Waterford were informed that their allowance is to be reclassified as a "wage" and will be paid biweekly rather than weekly.
Their money will also be taxed and according to a number of these apprentices, they are "already struggling to live week to week on the low income as it is."
A strike is going ahead outside Waterford ETB from 8:30am this morning.
Speaking to Beat news, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath says it's wrong:
"It's criminal what they're doing to these young people....you cannot penalise people for trying to get a trade under their belt. It's wrong."
“The apprentices I have spoken to are extremely angry at the heavy handed tactics that are being employed by the ETB’s and the Further Education and Training Authority, SOLAS.
They were informed without any prior notice that receipt of their payment is to be changed from weekly to fortnightly.
Most of these apprentices however are barely surviving from week to week as it is.
We are talking about people receiving €120 per week and who still have to pay for college digs and other living expenses."
