THE TECHNICAL Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) has called on the Government to introduce a special levy on employers in the construction sector who have let go apprentices before they completed their training.
The union said the money could be used to make more attractive a new scheme announced by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan at the weekend to assist apprentices who have been made redundant by giving them an opportunity to complete the on-the-job element of their apprenticeships.
The TEEU yesterday gave a “guarded welcome” to the Government’s new scheme. However, it said that much more needed to be done.
TEEU general secretary Owen Wills, who is also chairman of the national craft apprentices committee of State-training agency Fás, said that there were about 3,000 apprentices currently redundant and that the scheme only made provision for assisting 500.
Under the scheme announced by the Tánaiste, Fás will place apprentices who have been made redundant with another eligible employer to replace existing apprentices of their own who have been released to attend scheduled off-the-job elements of their apprenticeships.
The apprenticeship system is modular based and comprises seven alternating phases of on-the-job and off-the-job training and development.
Ms Coughlan said employers participating in the scheme would be required to pay the apprentice the agreed industry rates for the specific trade and that Fás would make a contribution of €340 per week towards employment costs incurred based on a 39-hour working week.
“The total cost of this scheme will be in the order of €4 million, which will in turn support the provision for up to 500 redundant apprentices depending on the actual phase mix/duration mix of apprentices over the period of the scheme,” the Minister said. The scheme would operate for apprentices in the areas of carpentry and joinery, electrical, plastering, plumbing and bricklaying.
Mr Wills said the allowance to the new employer “should be supplemented by a levy on those who dismissed the apprentices in the first place so as to make the scheme more attractive to bona fide employers and to maximise the impact of the scheme in helping apprentices complete their training”.