AN170010 – Building and Construction Industry Award

PART X – TRAINING AND RELATED MATTERS 

47. CIVIL OPERATIONS TRAINEESHIPS

(a) Definitions

(i) A ‘traineeship’ is a system of structured on-the-job training with an employer and off-the-job training with an approved training provider accessed through a contract of training. A traineeship provides three stages of training resulting in the trainee achieving a qualification at CW3 level (equivalent to AQF level 3). Progression through each stage will be dependent on the trainee passing the required competency based assessment.

(ii) An ‘approved training provider’ is a Technical and Further Education College or other training provider accredited by the appropriate State training authority.

(iii) A ‘contract of training’ means an approved agreement for training registered with the appropriate State training authority or under the provisions of the appropriate State training legislation.

(iv) A ‘trainee’ is an employee who is bound by a contract of training registered with the appropriate State training authority.

(b) Trainees to be Additional to Existing Employees

As the objective of the introduction of the civil operations traineeship is to enhance the skill levels and future employment prospects of young people in the industry, but not at the expense of existing workers, all trainees shall as far as possible be employed in addition to the existing employees of the respective company and shall not displace existing employees.

(c) Training Conditions

(i) Trainees shall attend the approved on and off-the-job training course or program as prescribed in the contract of training.

(ii) The employer shall provide a level of supervision in accordance with the approved training plan during the traineeship period.

(iii) All traineeships shall be subject to a monitoring committee agreed to by the parties to this award, which shall have the authority to inspect all training records or work books to ensure compliance with the contract of training.

(d) Employment Conditions

(i) A trainee shall be engaged for the period as specified by the contract of training as a full-time employee, provided that such trainee shall be subject to a satisfactory probation period of up to one month.

(ii) A trainee shall be permitted to be absent from work, without loss of pay or continuity of employment, to attend the off-the-job training in accordance with the contract of training.

(iii) Where the employment of a trainee by an employer is continued after the completion of the traineeship, the period of the traineeship shall be counted as service for the purposes of the award and long service leave entitlements.

(iv) Overtime and shiftwork shall not be worked by trainees except to enable the requirements of the training plan to be met. When overtime and/or shiftwork are worked the relevant penalties and allowances prescribed by the award shall apply, based on the wage rate contained in this clause. No trainees shall work overtime or shiftwork on their own or without supervision.

(v) Except as provided for in this clause all other conditions as provided in the award shall apply.

(e) Minimum Weekly Wage Rates

The minimum weekly wage rates payable to trainees shall be as follows:

Stage	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
Relativity	68 percent	78 percent	90 percent
	$	$	$
Base rate	248.30	284.90	328.70
Supplementary payment	35.40	40.60	46.90
Arbitrated safety net	159.00	159.00	159.00
Industry Allowance	21.70	21.70	21.70
Special Allowance	7.70	7.70	7.70
Total Weekly Rate	472.10	513.90	564.00

(f) All other allowances and entitlements (including fares and travel patterns allowance) shall be paid in accordance with the award.

(g) If any State statute relating to apprentices or trainees is now or hereafter in force, or if any State authority with statutory power has issued or may issue any regulation relating to apprentices or trainees, such statute and such regulations shall operate provided that the provisions thereof are not inconsistent with this award.