AN170120 – Metal and Engineering Industry Award
(a) The parties to this award recognise that in order to increase the efficiency, productivity and international competitiveness of industry, a greater commitment to training and skill development is required. Accordingly, the parties commit themselves to:
(i) developing a more highly skilled and flexible workforce;
(ii) providing employees with career opportunities through appropriate training to acquire additional skills; and
(iii) removing barriers to the utilisation of skills acquired.
(b) Following proper consultation in accordance with Part VII - CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Clause 2 - Structural Efficiency, subclause (b) or through the establishment of a training committee, an employer shall develop a training program consistent with:
(i) the current and future skill needs of the enterprise;
(ii) the size, structure and nature of the operations of the enterprise;
(iii) the need to develop vocational skills relevant to the enterprise and the industry through courses conducted by accredited educational institutions and providers.
(c) 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:
(i) formulation of a training program and availability of training courses and career opportunities to employees;
(ii) dissemination of information on the training program and availability of training courses and career opportunities to employees;
(iii) the recommending of individual employees for training and reclassification;
(iv) monitoring and advising management and employees on the on-going effectiveness of the training.
(d) (i) Where, as a result of consultation in accordance with Part VII - CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Clause 2 - Structural Efficiency or through a training committee and with the employee concerned, it is agreed that additional training in accordance with the program developed pursuant to subclause (b) herein should be undertaken either on or off the job.
PROVIDED that if the training is undertaken during ordinary working hours the employee concerned shall not suffer any loss of pay. The employer shall not unreasonably withhold such paid training leave.
(ii) Any costs associated with standard fees for prescribed courses and prescribed textbooks (excluding 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.
(iii) Travel costs incurred by an employee undertaking training in accordance with this clause which exceed those normally incurred in travelling to and from work shall be reimbursed by the employer.
(e) Subclauses (b), (c) and (d) herein shall operate as interim provisions and shall be reviewed after nine months' operation. In the meantime, the parties shall monitor the effectiveness of those interim provisions in encouraging the attainment of the objectives detailed in subclause (a) herein. In this connection, the unions reserve the right to press for the mandatory prescription of a minimum number of training hours per annum, without loss of pay, for an employee undertaking training to meet the needs of an individual enterprise and/or the industry.
(f) Any dispute arising in relation to subclauses (b) and (c) shall be subject to the provisions of Part VII - CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Clause 1 - Disputes and Grievance Procedures.
