Apprentices’ Basie Terms Reduced

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31209, 5 November 1966, Page 26

Apprentices’ Basie Terms Reduced

Carpentry and joinery apprentices in certain categories have had their basic terms reduced by 1000 hours, according to a new apprenticeship order.

The new order will apply to existing contracts. Such contracts, says a note attached to the order, will have to be read subject to the provisions of the Apprentices’ Act (1948) and be deemed to be modified accordingly when the order becomes effective on Wednesday. For instance, says the note, the minimum wage rates payable will be increased and for many apprentices the term of apprenticeship reduced and in some cases completed.

The basic term has been reduced to 9000 hours, except in joinery machining for which the basic term remains 8000 hours. The basic terms are reduced by 1000 hours for School Certificate holders; those failing School Certificate but obtaining not less than 50 per cent marks in mathematics and in either woodwork or technical drawing in that examination; those who have attended a trade course for a further year beyond the prerequisite education requirement and who have passed the first qualifying examination or an equivalent examination (this envisages some form of preapprenticeship trade training); and those over 18 years when beginning their apprenticeship. There is a new sub-clause providing a 200-hour reduction in the term for those apprentices who have a good school record, but fail to pass examinations. The summary on wages says that the wage scales have been increased—the basic 9000-hour-term scale being from 35 per cent to 93 per cent of journeymen’s rates. It says that apprentices

who reach the end of the last wage period by receiving increases for passing examinations shall be paid journeymen’s rates for the remainder of their apprenticeships.