CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION [ S.L.452.59 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 452.59 CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION ORDER * 10th March, 1980 LEGAL NOTICE 27 of 1980, as amended by Legal Notices 66 of 1989, 44 of 1990, 427 of 2007, 131 of 2010, 362 of 2012, 334, 444 of 2013, 482 of 2014, 5 of 2016, 97 and 383 of 2017, 104 and 351 of 2019, 469 of 2020, 464 of 2021, 335 of 2022, 286 of 2023, 341 of 2024 and 288 of 2025. 1. The title of this Order is Construction Wages Council Wage Regulation Order. Title. 2. The provisions set out in the Schedule hereto shall apply to all employees in respect of whom the Construction Wages Council operates. Field of operation of Wages Council. SCHEDULE Amended by: L.N. 66 of 1989; L.N. 44 of 1990; L.N. 427 of 2007; L.N. 131 of 2010; L.N. 362 of 2012; L.N. 334 of 2013; L.N. 444 of 2013; L.N. 482 of 2014; L.N. 5 of 2016; L.N.97 of 2017; L.N. 383 of 2017; L.N. 104 of 2019; L.N. 351 of 2019; L.N. 469 of 2020; L.N. 464 of 2021; L.N. 335 of 2022; L.N. 286 of 2023; L.N. 341 of 2024; L.N. 288 of 2025. 1. In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires - "customary holidays" means the days (other than Sundays) declared for the time being to be public holidays by or under the National Holidays and other Public Holidays Act; "day" means a period running from midnight of one day to midnight of the next immediately following day; "hours of work" means the time in any day during which employees are at the disposal of the employer, exclusive of the intervals allowed for meals and rest; "normal hourly wage" means the weekly wage divided by (
- a)sixty, in the case of watchmen, and (
- b)forty, in the case of other employees; "part-time employee" means an employee whose normal hours of *This Order has been repealed by Legal Notice 118 of 2026. Interpretation. Cap. 252. 2 CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION [ S.L.452.59 work, calculated on a weekly basis or on average over a period of employment of up to one year, are less than the normal hours of work of a comparable whole-time employee and who is not a whole-time employee with reduced hours; "recognised breaks" means breaks which are customary among particular sections of the employees to whom this Schedule applies; "time-and-a-half" and "double-time" mean respectively (
- a)in the case of a time employee, one-and-a-half times and twice the normal rate due to him; (
- b)in the case of an employee on piece-work: (
- i)the piece rates being paid to the employee, and in addition, (
- ii)a time rate equal to one half, or, as the case may be, the whole of the normal rate which would have been payable to him if he were a time employee; "wages" means remuneration or earnings, payable in money by an employer to an employee; "week" means a calendar week; "weekly day of rest" means a period of twenty-four consecutive hours commencing at the time at which the worker would normally commence his turn of duty; "whole-time employee" means an employee who is deemed to be a whole-time employee in terms of any recognized conditions of employment. Hours of work. 2.
(1)The minimum weekly remuneration for time employees, other than watchmen, shall be related to not more than forty hours of work calculated on an average for one calendar year exclusive of overtime and of recognised breaks for meals and rest spread over a five-day week.
(2)The minimum weekly remuneration for watchmen shall be related to a week of not more than sixty hours of work, exclusive of overtime, spread over six days.
(3)A time-schedule covering a period of a calendar year for all categories of employees in the same establishment, as the case may be, shall be submitted in writing by registered letter, to the Director and shall, when so notified and provided it complies in all respects with the provisions of this Order and the requirements of a n y o t h e r l a w, c o n s t i t u t e t h e n o r m a l w o r k i n g h o u r s i n t h e establishment: Provided that (
- a)until such time-schedule is submitted to the Director as aforesaid, the normal working hours in the establishment shall be forty hours in any one week; and (
- b)any changes to such time-schedule shall not be effected by the employer before the prior notification CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION [ S.L.452.59 3 in writing of such changes to the Director. 3.
(1)Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 of this Schedule, the minimum weekly wages payable to time employees shall be the following: (
- a)(
- b)(
- i)Watchmen whose duties are mainly performed indoors ............................................ €234.10 (
- ii)Watchmen whose duties are mainly performed out of doors ..................................... €236.43 Other time employees: (
- i)aged 18 years or over ....................... €234.10 (
- ii)aged 17 years ................................... €223.29 (iii) aged under 17 years .......................... €220.71 Minimum remuneration. Amended by: L.N.97 of 2017; L.N. 383 of 2017; L.N. 104 of 2019; L.N. 351 of 2019; L.N. 469 of 2020; L.N. 464 of 2021; L.N. 335 of 2022; L.N. 286 of 2023; L.N. 341 of 2024; L.N. 288 of 2025.
(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Schedule, an employee shall be entitled to the full contracted weekly remuneration if (
- a)he works for not less than thirty-seven hours in any one week, exclusive of overtime work, if he works in a quarry; (
- b)he works for not less than forty-five hours in any one week, exclusive of overtime work, if he works as a watchman; (
- c)in the case of any other employee, he works for less than forty hours, but not less than thirty hours, in any one week, exclusive of overtime work: Provided that a proportionate reduction may be made in respect of such number of hours during which the employee shall absent himself at his own request. 4. In the case of employees employed on piece-work the minimum piece rates of wages shall be such that no employee will earn, when employed on such work, less than the appropriate time pro rata specified in paragraph 3 hereof. Piece-work employees. 5. Employees other than watchmen shall be allowed intervals of not less, in the aggregate, than one hour for meals and rest in any day on which the hours of work exceed five and one half hours. Minimum daily rest. 6. All employees shall be allowed a weekly day of rest in every week. Minimum weekly rest. 7. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph and of paragraph 1 of this Schedule, minimum overtime rates shall be paid to all employees, other than watchmen, as follows: Minimum overtime rates.
(1)(
- a)On any day, other than Saturday and Sunday or customary holidays, for any hours in excess of the normal working hours of the establishment which shall not exceed nine hours on any day ...... time-and -a-half; (
- b)for all hours of work on Saturdays ..... time-and-a-half; (
- c)for all hours of work on Sundays ............. double-time; 4 [ S.L.452.59 CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION (
- d)for all hours of work on a customary holiday ............................................................. double time in addition to a normal hourly wage. The provisions of this paragraph apply to an employee on piece work only when he is required to work overtime by his employer.
(2)Overtime shall be payable to watchmen (
- a)at the rate of time-and-a-half for all time worked in excess of sixty hours in a period of six consecutive days, and (
- b)at the rate of double-time for all time worked on the seventh day and/or on any customary holiday. Holidays. 8.
(1)Whole-time employees shall be entitled, in every calendar year, to (
- a)all customary holidays with full pay, and (
- b)after three months in employment, vacation leave of such number of working days with full pay as is equivalent to the number of working days as that particular employee should normally attend to work during a period of four weeks: Provided that whole-time employees who have been in employment for less than one year shall be entitled to such part of the said vacation leave as is in proportion to the number of months in employment.
(2)For the purpose of this paragraph, a break in employment of not more than thirty days shall not interrupt the continuity of service. Sick leave. Cap. 318. 9.
(1)After the completion of one year’s continuous service, a whole-time employee shall in every calendar year be entitled to the equivalent in hours of fifteen days sick leave on full pay, less an amount equal to the sum set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security Act, and part-time employees shall have a pro rata entitlement to sick leave in hours on full pay, less an amount equal to the sum set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security Act, which amount is also to be calculated on a pro rata basis: Provided that (
- a)the first three days of any claim for sick leave shall be paid in full by the employer; (
- b)a medical certificate covering the period of absence is produced to the employer on the day of return to work or, if such period of absence is longer than seven days, within seven days of the onset of sick leave absence; CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION [ S.L.452.59 (
- c)employees in receipt of a social security pension in respect of retirement or widowhood in terms of the Social Security Act shall, for the purpose of calculating the sick leave pay due, be deemed to have received an amount equal to the sum set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security Act.
(2)After the completion of one year’s continuous service, a whole-time employee shall in every calendar year be entitled to the equivalent in hours of a further fifteen days sick leave on half pay, less an amount equal to half the sum set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security Act, and part-time employees shall have a pro rata entitlement to sick leave in hours on half pay, less an amount equal to half the sum set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security Act, which amount is also to be calculated on a pro rata basis: Cap. 318. Cap. 318. Provided that (
- a)the first three days of any claim for sick leave shall be paid at half pay by the employer; (
- b)a medical certificate covering the period of absence is produced to the employer on the day of return to work or, if such period of absence is longer than seven days, within seven days of the onset of sick leave absence; (
- c)employees in receipt of a social security pension in respect of retirement or widowhood in terms of the Social Security Act shall, for the purpose of calculating the sick leave pay due, be deemed to have received an amount equal to half the sum set for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate established under the Social Security Act. Cap. 318.
(3)The employer may require a medical certificate by his own physician to certify incapacity for work during the period of absence.
(4)For the purpose of this regulation, a break in employment of not more than thirty days shall not interrupt the continuity of service.
(5)The sick leave entitlement granted by virtue of this paragraph shall be calculated on the basis provided for annual leave as specified in regulation 8
(1)of the Organisation of Working Time Regulations. S.L. 452.87 10. Whole-time employees shall be allowed two days paid leave on the occasion of the death of any of the following relations: the wife, husband, mother, father (or the person who at the time was in fact acting as the mother or father of the employee), son or daughter, brother or sister. Bereavement leave. 11. A whole-time employee shall be allowed three days leave on full pay on the occasion of his marriage and two days leave on full pay on the occasion of the birth of a child to his wife. Marriage leave, etc. 5 6 [ S.L.452.59 Injury leave. Cap. 318. CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION 12. A whole-time employee shall be entitled to one year injury leave on full pay, less the full amount of any injury benefit to which such employee may be entitled under the Social Security Act, if he is injured during the actual discharge of his duty and such injury is not due to any contributory negligence on his part or to the contravention by him of safety rules laid down by the management. Jury service. 13. A whole-time employee shall, if called upon to serve as juror, be allowed all time off as shall be necessary, without any deduction from pay to which he would otherwise have been entitled, to enable him to attend to such duty in Court. Waiting time. 14. An employee is entitled to the payment of the minimum remuneration applicable to him for all time during which he is present on the premises of his employer or in any other place in connection with his employment unless he is present thereon in any of the following circumstances (
- a)without the employer’s consent, expressed or implied; (
- b)for some purpose unconnected with his work and other than that of waiting for work to be given to him to perform; (
- c)by reason only of the fact that he is resident thereon; (
- d)during normal meal times in a room or place in which no work is being done, and he is not waiting for work to be given to him to perform. EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Schedule but is intended to indicate its applicability).The above Order operates in respect of all employees engaged in building, in civil engineering, and in mechanical or electrical engineering or work and also in respect of all employees engaged in marble works and lime kilns. In this Explanatory Note (
- a)the phrase "building, civil engineering and mechanical or electrical engineering or work" includes construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, alteration, painting, decoration or demolition of any building, road, harbour, dock, pier, bridge, viaduct, sewer, drain, well or other work of construction, the preparation for or laying the foundation of any work or structure, the extraction from the earth of stone, clay, sand or gravel, the manufacture of precast concrete masonry and concrete units, the manufacture of cement tiles, and any plumbing work or electrical wiring; and CONSTRUCTION WAGES COUNCIL WAGE REGULATION [ S.L.452.59 (
- b)the phrase "marble works" includes the cutting, dressing, setting and laying of marble blocks or slabs to make ornamental or protective surfaces, and the preparation and setting of all marble objects whether for ornamental purposes or not. This Order does not apply to employees employed by woodwork contractors. 7