28 May 2012

Fair Work Australia apprentice and trainee review

Fair Work Australia has scheduled a conference for Wednesday 30th May 2012 at 2.00 pm to consider issues relating to apprentices,  trainees and juniors as part of the Modern Awards Review 2012.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has published a short scoping paper which sets out suggested decisions points for the review.

 

• Examine whether competency based wage progression provisions in modern awards and other workplace instruments would assist the achievement of competency based progression in the Australian Apprenticeships system.
• Consider the relativities between apprentice and trainee wages, the NTW schedule, junior rates of pay and the national minimum wage and whether the relativities are appropriate, given the productivity of apprentice and trainees.
• Examine whether the rates of pay/wages continue to be appropriate in light of the changing demographics and circumstances of modern-day apprentices and trainees.
• Whether there is a need to address modern award variations in the provision of allowances for apprentice and trainees to complement and support the Vocational Education and Training system.
• Consider the effect of opportunity costs for apprentices/trainees and their employers, resulting from participating in Australian apprenticeships and traineeships. Further, consider the possible impact of wages being a contributing factor to the low retention and completion rates of apprentices and trainees.
• Whether the minimum number of hours a part time apprentice should be performing work each week and minimum rates of pay for school-based and part-time apprentices and trainees are appropriate.
• Consider whether it would be appropriate for all modern awards to have consistent provisions for the recognition of pre-apprenticeship and pre-vocational training for apprentices and trainees, particularly for setting applicable wage rates.

WorkSight will be representing Groupt Training Australia at the conference.