Selgas
Plumbers down here are also covered by a minimum rate set by Government legislation however, that is not to say that a good employer is not able to pay more than the rate provided for by the Government schedule – which is usually applied as being a minimum rate anyways.
We do have female apprentice plumbers here but I have yet to hear of one completing their full time and becomming fully qualified. There may be one or two but I am not aware of them myself. 
