Good news and bad news
The CONNECT:PROTECT campaign found most labour hire apprentices and trainees interviewed were positive about their employment and training. Overall, findings indicated that:
- apprentices and trainees were happier where they had host employer placements for a year or more, enabling them to have continuity with their employment and training and feel valued
- some apprentices and trainees who undertook shorter placements felt they were being used as cheap labour
- communication between labour hire providers, host employers and registered training organisations (RTOs) is important – improved communication could have prevented some issues.
Most apprentices and trainees interviewed (42 out of 50) raised no issues and provided positive feedback. Ten investigations were opened because of the campaign, 9 have closed and one remains open. Authorised officers closed investigations by:
- identifying that employers were meeting their obligations,
- providing regulatory advice
- resolving disputes and misunderstandings between apprentices, trainees and employers.
Campaign case studies
- A trainee advised that their RTO was preventing them from completing their training contract due to a requirement for minimum workplace placement hours. An authorised officer reviewed the situation, determined that the labour hire employer had been meeting their obligations, and liaised with the RTO to enable the trainee to complete the training contract.
- An apprentice alleged they were bullied in the workplace and having enrolment problems with their RTO. However, an authorised officer identified that it was the apprentice who was not meeting their obligations. They had not been attending training and the labour hire provider was attempting to manage their performance. The apprentice subsequently withdrew their complaint.
- An apprentice alleged insufficient supervision in the workplace. An authorised officer attempted to contact the apprentice to ask further questions, but they did not respond. The authorised officer then made enquiries with other apprentices at the same employer. It was determined that the employer was meeting their supervision obligations and the investigation was closed.
- An apprentice complained about a dispute with their labour hire provider. They wanted to cancel their training contract to be directly employed by the host employer, but the labour hire provider would not agree to release them. An authorised officer made enquiries and the labour hire provider agreed to cancel the training contract. This allowed the apprentice to change employers.
Updated