Employment Conditions
Employer
In the Northern Territory, conditions of employment for apprentices and trainees are the same as for other employees working in similar occupations, including hours of work, overtime, holidays, sick leave, superannuation and other penalty provisions.
The employer must provide the apprentice or trainee with:
- Every opportunity to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge of the trade or traineeship,
- Access to structured on and/or off-the-job training,
- Paid time off work to attend training when necessary, and
- A safe working environment.
The employer is obliged to make the terms and conditions of employment clear to the apprentice or trainee such as:
- Which award or agreement covers the apprentice/trainee,
- Hours of work, including overtime and shift work and any requirements for reporting absences,
- Pay arrangements, including the pay day and how deductions from pay are made, and
- Any special rules and procedures, including unacceptable conduct, confidentiality, and disciplinary, grievance and consultative-committee procedures.
The apprentice/trainee is eligible to receive the same entitlements as full-time employees, these include:
- Leave (sick leave, annual leave, parental leave, bereavement leave,
- Allowances (tool allowance, uniform or laundry allowance, travel allowance) as set out in the relevant legislation, industrial award or workplace agreement,
- Employer superannuation contributions,
- Worker’s compensation, and
- Fair treatment by employer and other staff.
There is no limit to the number of apprentices/trainees you can employ, as long as you provide adequate supervision and training for them. Your registered training organisation and Australian Apprenticeships NT can advise you of the supervision and training that is required for the chosen apprenticeship/traineeship.
If the apprentice/trainee is under 18 years of age, consent from a parent or guardian must be obtained prior to entering into a Training Contract.