The deal follows months of talks between both sides under the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) pay framework.

The one-year Working Rule Agreement comes into force on July 25 and includes a 5% pay increase across all rates and a two stage increase in non-taxable allowances.

Negotiations started early this year with the unions submitting claims for a 10% rise before employers came back with a sub 4% offer.

The CIJC sets minimum wages for more than 500,000 workers primarily in civil engineering and the ‘biblical’ trades.