SKILLED TRADES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 10

SKILLED TRADES

TRAINING OF YOUTHS

APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME

SUBSIDY ON WAGES

A scheme for the training of youths between the ages of 18 and 25 years in skilled trades, particularly building construction, was outlined today by the Acting Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb). Provision is made for subsidising the wages, of apprentices over 18 years of ag*e on a scale which, for example, will give the youth apprenticed to carpentry and joinery an initial wage of £1 12s 6d a week, rising to £3 7s 6d in the third and last year of apprenticeship. The amounts of subsidy recoverable by the employer in such employment of apprentices will be 15s a week in the first year, 10s in the second, and 5s in the third year. The rates vary in respect of older apprentices.

The Minister said that in order to provide means for absorbing youths between the ages of 18 and 25 years who, by reason of the depression, had lost the opportunity of entering skilled trades, a committee of Government Departmental representative^ was set up to frame proposals dealing with the matter. This Committee made recommendations which w-ere subsequently discussed with, representatives of the workers' unions and the Master Builders' Federation. The scheme as finalised, which applied for the present to the carpentering and bricklaying trades only, was as follows:— 1. To subsidise the wages of apprentices over 18 years, as under: SCALE OF WAGES AND SUBSIDIES. Carpentry and Jolngfy (3 years' apprenticeship) Amount of subsidy Commencing Total wase recover- Net parage, payable by able by rnent by 18 years. employer, employer, employer. First year .. £1/12/6 15/- 17/8 Second year . £2/12/6 .10/- 42/6 Third year . £3/7/6 5/- 62/8 Thereafter journeyman's .rates. Carpentry and Joinery (3 years' apprenticeship). Commencing 1!) years and over. First year ... £ 2/2/0 20/- 22/6 Second year . £3/2/6 15/- 47/6 Third year.. £4/2/G 30/- . 72/6 Thereafter journeyman's rates. Bricklaying (2 years' apprenticeship.) Commencing 19 years and over. First year .. £2/12/6 23/- 27/6 Second year . £3/12/6 10/- 62/6 Thereafter journeyman's rates; 2. To provide for the employment of trainees between the ages of 18 and 25, the subsidy to such trainees being 50 per cent, of the amount of the subsidy allowed to apprentices as above mentioned. "In respect of apprentices over the age of eighteen years," continued Mr. Webb, "these will be dealt with under the provisions of section 7 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1936; that is,- a special contract of apprenticeship will be required for the period above specified having regard to the age and previous experience of the youth." TRAINEES TO REGISTER. "Regarding trainees,, every trainee must register with the District Registrar of Apprentices, and his engagement by any employer will be subject to approval by-.the apprenticeship committee or, where there is no committee, by the District Registrar. A progress card will be issued to him which shall be signed by his employer on the termination of the employment. "A trainee may be transferred on completing his service with an employer to any other employer, and the' various periods of service shall be aggregated for the purpose of qualifying as a journeyman. It shall be a condition of employment that the trainee must be taught the trade, and in the event of his not being properly taught the trade, or if the trainee does not show any aptitude, . the employment may be terminated by the committee or the District Registrar, as the case may be. In addition to the subsidy, assistance may be granted by way of loan to any apprentice or trainee for the purpose of purchasing tools immediately required. HELPFUL SPIRIT SHOWN. "It is the desire of the Government," said the Minister, that special efforts should be made to place immediately those youths between the ages of 38 and 25 years who are at present out of employment and who are suitable and willing to enter the trades, either as apprentices or trainees. A very helpful spirit has been shown both by workers' and employers' organisations in the preparation of the scheme, and I now earnestly appeal to employers and workers alike to support the scheme and provide the openings to enable the youths to obtain employment. ■ ' "I would, therefore, urge employers who are willing to employ these yoyths to get into touch with the District Registrar of Apprentices or the placement officer in their district. The Department's officers have already been instructed to use every endeavour to assist in the placing of these youths. "Full details of the trainee schem? will be issued in a few days' time. There is, however, nothing to prevent the immediate employment of youths over eighteen as apprentices. Full information regarding the procedure m arranging the contracts can be obtained from the District Registrar of Apprentices."