Federation welcomes apprenticeship support

Federation welcomes extension for apprenticeship support

22 April 2009

The Industry Training Federation (ITF) welcomes the Government’s extension ofsupport for apprentices and industry trainees made redundant as a result of the currentrecession.

Tertiary Education Minister Hon Anne Tolley announced the change at the ITF’sVocational Education and Training Research Forum held in Wellington today. It means industry trainees can remain in their training agreements for 12 weeks following termination of their employment – up from the current 6 week cut off.

‘The change allows apprentices and trainees to remain connected with their training while they find new jobs,’ ITF Executive Director Jeremy Baker said.

‘It will enable Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to work closely with their apprentices and trainees for longer. It’s crucial that trainees, employers and the taxpayer don’t lose the training investment they’ve already made. We need people to complete the qualifications they’ve started and keep these skills in the economy.’

Today’s announcement is a response to the Prime Minister’s Job Summit, held earlier this year, which pledged support for maintaining skills and transitioning redundant apprentices and trainees back into employment.

The ITF is working closely with government to further develop the range of services that can be offered by ITOs to employers and trainees affected by the current economic situation.

We look forward to finding further ways to increase the flexibility of regulations for industry training and workplace learning to better enable ITOs to respond to the needs of industry during and beyond the recession,’ Mr Baker added.

More than 35,000 businesses and 180,000 apprentices and trainees are involved in
industry training every year.

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