The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) is concerned about the appalling run-down in apprenticeships and Vocational Education and Training (VET) for young people under the Coalition Government.
AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian said Scott Morrison’s paltry promise to lift funding for vocational training was unlikely to result in more apprentices entering the workforce.
“This is standard Coalition fare, offering additional financial incentives for bosses to pay for apprentices already employed or who would have taken up an apprenticeship whether or not additional funding was available,” Mr Bastian said.
“This subsidy exclusively benefits employers. If an employer can’t afford to take on an apprentice without a subsidy, they are unlikely to be able to retain the tradesperson on completion.”
Mr Bastian said the Coalition had a very poor record in VET, abolishing the “Tools For Your Trade Grant” which was valued by apprentices and provided substantial assistance.
“This Government pushed apprentices onto HECS-style income contingent loans that have had a deeply negative effect on apprentices and resulted in bosses pushing the cost of tools and personal protective equipment onto their young employees.”
Mr Bastian said the latest scheme would do little to address the shortage of trades people in Australia and was yet another attempt to give Coalition MPs and candidates ‘political cover’ during the election campaign when young people and their parents complained the Government was doing nothing for vocational education and training.
“There has been a shameful $3 billion in cuts to VET under the Coalition with 150,000 fewer people in apprenticeships,” Mr Bastian said.
“This latest announcement is designed to shore up National Party votes in the regions where young people are crying out for training opportunities.”
“It’s about reducing costs for employers at the expense of ensuring quality training and genuine opportunities for apprentices.”
“We are also concerned about the risk of rorting and churning by employers who will have an incentive to employ a procession of first and second year apprentices to use as labourers and cleaners.”
“Everything the Coalition does is about reducing costs to the employer, never anything for apprentices.”
