Professional deals and minimum wage introduced to Women's National League

Professional contracts will be introduced to the SSE Airtricity Women's National League for the first time for the 2023 season.

Professional players in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League will be subject to the same standard player contract and minimum wage regulations as men’s players in the League of Ireland.

That includes contracts of a minimum of €430 per week full-time and €130 for part-time which were introduced earlier this month.

Clubs retain the rights to have amateur players – which the vast majority of the league’s players will be – but will risk losing players to other teams.

The terms are slightly altered for teenage players, with full-time players at 19 receiving €380, 18-year olds are entitled to a minimum of €330, while it's €280 for 16 and 17-year-olds. The part-time equivalents are €120, €105 and €90.

Clubs wishing to sign players on professional contracts will now also be subject to domestic training compensation regulations which are in place for the first time a player changes their status from amateur to professional.

This agreement has been reached after the National Leagues Committee approved the introduction of measure and it was ratified by the FAI board.

Shamrock Rovers have joined the Women’s National League and are set to offer terms better than amateur basis to their players.

A working group has been established to monitor implementation and effects of the introduction of professional contracts to the League.

Club licensing criteria will also apply to ensure that the change of status from amateur to professional is regulated and clubs will be subjected to Salary Cost Protocols in order to be compliant with Financial Fair Play regulations.

Any player who moves to another professional club will