AN140103 – Electrical Contracting Industry Award - State 2003

PART 9 - TRAINING AND RELATED MATTERS 

9.1 COMMITMENT TO TRAINING

9.1.1 The parties to this Award recognise that in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of the Electrical Contracting Industry, a continuing commitment to training and skill development is required. Accordingly, the parties commit themselves to:

(a) developing a more suitably skilled and flexible workforce;

(b) providing employees with career opportunities through appropriate training to acquire additional skills; and

(c) removing barriers to the utilisation of skills acquired.

9.1.2 Where it is agreed a training committee be established, that training committee should be constituted by equal numbers of employer and employee representatives and have a charter which clearly states its role and responsibilities, for example.

(a) formulation of a training programme and availability of training courses and career opportunities to employees;

(b) dissemination of information on the training programme and availability of training courses and career opportunities to employees;

(c) the recommending of individual employees for training and reclassification;

(d) monitoring and advising management and employees on the on-going effectiveness of the training.

9.1.3 Additional training

(a) Where through a training committee and with the employee concerned, it is agreed that the additional training in accordance with the programme developed should be undertaken by an employee, that training may be undertaken either on or off the job:

Provided that if the training is undertaken during ordinary working hours the employer concerned shall not unreasonably withhold such paid training leave.

(b) Where agreed additional training is undertaken by an employee, any costs associated with standard fees for prescribed courses and prescribed textbooks (including those textbooks which are available in the employer's technical library) incurred in connection with the undertaking of training shall be reimbursed by the employer upon production of evidence of such expenditure:

Provided that reimbursement shall also be on an annual basis subject to the presentation of reports of satisfactory progress.

(c) Travel costs incurred by an employee undertaking agreed additional training in accordance with clause 9.1, which exceed those normally incurred travelling to and from work, shall be reimbursed by the employer.