In some industries parties have agreed through their Award that apprentices will receive a wage increase when they reach an identified competency based wage progression point.
The employer must then increase the apprentice’s wages in accordance with the provisions of their Award, which is the industrial agreement under which employment conditions are defined.
The progression arrangement has been agreed in the Engineering and Automotive industries and may relate to other industries as their Awards change.
What are competency based wage progressions?
Are there competency based wage progressions in my trade?
How does competency based completion operate where there are competency based wage progressions arrangements?
Do any different documents need to be signed?
Who can give advice on wage progression?
Competency based wage progressions are when an apprentice completes a progression point by achieving a number of competencies, and they may be entitled to a wage increase.
Where competency based wage progressions exist, Bendigo TAFE is required to notify employers when the apprentice reaches any of the identified competency based wage progression points. The employer may then increase the apprentice’s wages in accordance with the provisions of the Modern Award.
Maybe. In Victoria, competency based wage progression arrangements have been agreed in the Engineering and Automotive industries and may relate to other industries as their Awards change.
Time based wage progressions remain applicable in any industry that does not have competency based wage progression in their Award. Time based wage progressions may also be available as a fall back for slower performing apprentices in trades with competency based wage progression.
For information about the Awards visit Fair Work Australia website or call:
Fair Work Australia
Tel: 1300 363 264
For apprenticeships where competency based wage progression arrangements apply (currently all Engineering Apprentices & those who commenced on 1st January 2011 as Automotive Apprentices), Bendigo TAFE will:
Notify the employer immediately, in writing, when the Apprentice / Trainee attains any point of progression linked to a competency progression point; - 25%, 50%, 75% & 100%.
Provide clear advice to the employer that final confirmation of the final competencies for the qualification completes the Training Contract.
This same advice may be provided from time to time if other industries elect to adopt competency based wage progression.
The same documents apply as other apprenticeships, however Bendigo TAFE will notify the employer in writing when the apprentice/trainee attains any point of progression linked to a wage progression point.
Bendigo TAFE can only refer the employer and the apprentice to Fair Work Australia or their relevant Industry association as detailed in the sample Training Plans.
More information is available on the Fair Work Ombudsman website or call:
Fair Work Infoline
Tel: 13 13 94