APPRENTICE
SHAM
23 September 2005
SA Unions has
condemned the federal government’s move to reduce apprentice wages
as anti-Australian and a disincentive to developing skills and
employment.
SA Unions
secretary Janet Giles says Apprentices are amongst the lowest paid
and most exploited workers, yet instead of delivering greater
industrial rights and protections, John Howard wants to strip them
of income.
“Apprenticeships
are already full of rorts, with employers pocketing federal funds
instead of providing proper training. Now to add injury to that
insult, Mr Howard has announced that under his attack on workplace
laws, he intends for apprentice pay rates to be set by his
euphemistically named “Fair” Pay Commission.”
“The intent of
the Fair Pay Commission is to replace the Industrial Relations
Commission in wage fixing, that is, to replace an independent
arbiter with a government appointed panel.”
“The federal
government’s track record of resisting wage increases leaves little
doubt that the role of the new Commission will be to contain or
reduce wages. A first year apprentice currently receives less than
$250 a week – that’s below the poverty line, and even that is at
risk under these changes” Ms Giles says.
“Mr Howard’s
changes would also strip away state award protections for
apprentices and trainees. That means no guarantees about quality of
training.”
“He also wants
to ditch time lines for apprenticeships. Presently there’s a
requirement that certain standards have to be achieved according to
certain timeframes. Removing this requirement will allow
unscrupulous employers to churn out poorly qualified workers, while
pocketing federal funding.”
“SA Unions’
recent report “Dirt Cheap and Disposable” found that nearly two
thirds of apprentices reported a lack of training or poor quality
training since the introduction of the federal government’s dodgy
“new apprenticeships” scheme. If the federal government strips away
apprentices last remaining award rights, no doubt we’ll see even
more young people receiving poor quality training, and rising
non-completion rates.”
“Last time we
looked, Australia was facing a skills shortage crisis. Is the
government really suggesting the solution is to remove guarantees
about the quality of qualifications to create a nation of low
skilled, low paid workers?