Advice and Instructions

Government Apprenticeship Employment Policy

Issued: 21 December 2001

The following reprint of Clause 4.2 Government Apprentice Employment Policy (May 1999), as supplied by DPWS, sets down the provisions for the employment of apprentice on major building and construction contracts and is included in both forms of contract.

4.2 Government apprentice employment policy (May 1999)
Use when contract value exceeds $250,000 and when at least 2,000 hours of trade labour are involved. Do not use for work where apprentices are not employed, eg civil work, pipe manufacture, pipe laying, excavation. (See circular 1983/16P for background information and details).

The Group General Manager, Strategic Procurement Services may approve exclusion of the clause where adherence can be demonstrated to be impractical.

Requirement
Maintain a ratio of at least one registered apprentice to every four trades people employed for the duration of the Contract, or ensure that 20% of the trade work involved in the Contract is undertaken by apprentices.

The ratio must be calculated on the basis of the total number of trades people and apprentices employed in all trades by the contractor and subcontractors. Indentured, trainee and group apprenticeship scheme apprentices, in all years of apprenticeship, must be included.

Schedule
Within three months of the work under the Contract commencing and every 6 months thereafter until completion of the work under the Contract, forward to the Principal a schedule listing the name, trade and registration number of each apprentice together with the total number of trades people employed by the Contractor and subcontractors used to determine the ratio. These schedules will be forwarded to the NSW department of Training and Education Co-ordination.

The Principal may inspect the records of the Contractor or any subcontractor at any time.

This information is provided for Industry Training Coordinators and Advisors who may be involved in the monitoring of an apprenticeship or the number of apprentices employed on such government contracts.