Many construction firms are denying apprentices their statutory entitlements to pay and allowances, and less than a third have been registered in pension schemes, according to a survey by the Dublin Institute of Technology.
The abuse is widespread in smaller firms and those not affiliated to IBEC or the Construction Industry Federation. Apprentices on unionised sites are seven times more likely to receive their entitlements but they comprise only 20 per cent of apprentices in the sector.
The findings are based on a survey of 298 apprentices attending courses at the DIT.
It was written by Mr Eddie Conlon, who lectures to apprentices in social science at DIT. He recommends that apprentices receive written contracts and details of their entitlements and greater monitoring by statutory bodies such as FÁS and the Health and Safety Authority.
Mr Conlon found 47 per cent of apprentices were not receiving the correct take-home pay and a quarter of these were losing out by over €63.50 (£50) a week.
CIF director Mr Peter McCabe said the findings were based on apprenticeship conditions in 1999 and only covered 2 per cent of the workforce. However he acknowledged that many of the issues raised needed to be followed up.