YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1937, Page 5

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

CONDITIONS IN BUILDING TRADES. The Government’s plan for granting a subsidy to employers in the building trade who will engage young men aged from 18 to 25 years has now been made public, and it is in full operation in many parts of Dominion. The reason for concentrating on the building trade is that because of the shortage of skilled operatives at the present time, and the demand for houses, it is believed that that industry will for several years provide greater cjoporlunities for the absorption or labour, directly and indirectly, than any other branch of industry. The plan covers two classes of engagement. The first follows the usual apprenticeship procedure. In the second class is the trainee, who is not indentured and whose services the employer may terminate whenever the lack of work warrants such action.' In these circumstances, the term of engagement maj' last from one week to three years, but employers are urged to endeavour to maintain the spirit of the plan and give the trainee a chance to master as many phases of the trade as possible. If, however, it becomes necessary for the trainee’s services to be dispensed with, the waiting periods between terms of engagement will be made less serious by granting 'the

trainee the relief for which he may be eligible, without any stand-down period. The conditions particularly stress . that the subsidy is applicable only to those adult apprentices or trainees in the carpentry trade who attained the age of 18 years on or before Ist September, 1937, and to the apprentices or trainees in the brick-laying trade who reached the age of 19 years on or before the same date. It is further provided that apprentices and trainees shall not have reached the age of 26 years on the date when application for their services is made to the Registrar of Apprentices. The rates of pay are the same for both trainees and apprentices, In the carpentering and joinery trade, for lads starting at 18 years, the commencing wage is 11/12/6 per week. In the second year the pay is £2/12/6 weekly; during the third year the wage is £3/7/6; thereafter journeyman’s rates. The subsidies in these oases are: for trainees, 7/6 5s and 2/6, apprentices 15/-, 10/and 5/-. Lads of 19 wears or over will start on £2/2/6 per week; they will receive £3/2/6 in the following year; and in the third year the pay is to be £4/2/6. They may then claim journeyman’s rates. Subsidies: trainees, 10/- 7/6 and 5/-; apprentices 20/15/- and 10/-. In the bricklaying trade, lads commencing at 19 years and over will receive £2/12/6, and in the second year £3/12/6. They will then be entitled to the rates for journeymen. The subsidies in this case are:

trainees, 12/6 and 5/-; aijarcntices 25/- and 10-. From the financial aspect, it is preferable for the employer to employ the youths as apprentices, the subsidy being greater in that case. It would also be advantageous for the worker, as it would provide a continuity of training. Trainees and apprentices are required to attend a Technical School, or take a correspondence course, or an approved course at some other] school. If progress and attendance! are satisfactory, payment of lhe school fees will be arranged. In cases where either a trainee or an apprentice is unable to purchase essential tools, the Secretary ol Labour has authority to supply them, subject to arrangements being made for the refund of the cost, in small weekly payments. The conditions governing the administration of this plan have been made as flexible as possible, and employers desirous of further information are urged to call at. the nearest Placement Office, the office of lhe District Registrar of Apprentices, or at the most accessible Post Office.