Minimum Hours for Part-time Apprenticeships Survey
The WA Department of Training and Workforce Development has requested feedback regarding all Training Councils’ position on the possibility of reducing the minimum part-time hours to 15 hours for industries within their coverage.
The minimum hours of employment and training for apprentices and traniees (including any off the job training component) has always been 20 hours per week in Western Australia, despite lower minimums in some other states and territories. More recently, part-time arrangements for the traditional trades were introduced in 2007 with a minimum of 20 hours.
The Department is now testing support for a reduction to 15 hours but in an effort to keep the training system simple and easy for employers to understand, there should be a uniform minimum part-time employment and training hour requirement across the State for all apprenticeships and traineeships. Training Council feedback in this matter will assist the Department in formulating a position on this policy for the Minister's consideration.
