AN160142 – Gold Mining Engineering and Maintenance Award
(1) The parties to this award recognise that in order to increase the efficiency and productivity and international competitiveness of industry, a greater commitment to training and skill development is required. Accordingly, the parties commit themselves to:
(a) developing a more highly 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.
(2) In accordance with the consultation provisions of this award, or through the establishment of a training committee, an employer shall develop a training programme consistent with:
(a) the current and future skill needs of the plant or mine-site;
(b) the size, structure and nature of the operations of the organisation;
(c) the need to develop vocational skills relevant to the gold industry through courses conducted by accredited educational institutions and providers.
(3) Where it is agreed that a training committee be established, such training committee shall be established in accordance with Clause 23. - Consultation in the Workplace, of this award.
(4) (a) Training may be either on or off the job and if the approved training is undertaken during ordinary working hours the employee concerned shall not suffer any loss of pay.
(b) Any costs associated with enrollment and the purchase of prescribed textbooks, excluding those which are available in the employer's technical library, incurred in connection with the undertaking of approved training shall be reimbursed by the employer upon production of evidence of such expenditure. Provided that reimbursement shall be on an annual basis subject to presentation of reports of satisfactory progress.
(c) Travel costs incurred by an employee undertaking approved training in accordance with this clause, which exceed those normally incurred in travelling to and from work, shall be reimbursed by the employer.
