Motion no: 19
Conference notes the shortage of apprentices in a number of crafts in the construction sector. This is compounded by the fact that employers in the sector are refusing to recognise qualifications as a requirement to employment. Employers have created an industry that celebrates the idea of training and apprenticeships. However, the same employers are ignoring those qualifications as workers pursue employment in the sector.
Employers are seeking to establish a register
of employers, contractors, sub-contractors, sub sub–contractors on a statutory footing and have achieved some notoriety on the issue. This will have the effect of normalising bogus self-employed workers as contractors or sub-contractors without seeking to provide qualifications or proof of skills attained in order to gain entry on their register.
Conference calls upon the Executive Council
to support the establishment of a register of qualified crafts people. This will create a valued and incentivised apprenticeship and act as a safe guard to the apprenticeship system.
