A new pay grading system for the State's 160,000 construction workers proposes increases of up to 25 per cent, but it is likely to be rejected because the new rates no longer reflect real earnings. SIPTU's construction industry branch has already voted unanimously to reject the proposals and the Building and Allied Trades Union, which represents bricklayers, withdrew from the exercise at an early stage.

The review, which was carried out by the Irish Productivity Centre has taken 14 months to conclude and cost £130,000.

It proposes a complex points system that would see traditional craft rates and differentials for general operatives (GOs) replaced with new categories based on a combination of skills and experience. A basket of 18 companies outside construction would be used to track and "benchmark" rates.

However the practical outcome of the exercise makes little difference in pay terms.

Guidelines laid out in the review would see craftworkers rates increase from £8.01p per hour to as much as £9.97p.

Experienced GOs would receive between 92 per cent and 82 per cent of the top craft rate.