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The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched two new guides to help apprentices and their employers understand their rights and obligations in the workplace.
The guides, one for apprentices and one for employers, set out essential information about workplace rights and responsibilities including apprentice pay, rules around hiring apprentices, and tips for resolving workplace issues.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the guides will help ensure the apprenticeship experience is a productive and positive one on both sides.
"Hiring an apprentice is a great way to build a business and cultivate the next generation of workers, but it comes with responsibilities," James says. “It is important that employers seeking to take on an apprentice make sure they are aware of relevant laws and meet their obligations with regard to pay, entitlements and training.
"Factors including age and limited work experience make apprentices particularly vulnerable in the workplace."
Results of the Fair Work Ombudsman's National Apprenticeship Campaign, released in March this year, showed one in three audited businesses failed to pay their apprentices correct wages.
"Despite accounting for less than three per cent of the Australian workforce, apprentices make up a disproportionately high amount of dispute lodgements with my agency, at seven per cent,” James says.
"Our new guide for apprentices will help them to understand their rights and entitlements as they commence their employment, and equip them with the information they need to resolve workplace issues and seek support during their apprenticeship."
