TURNBULL GOVERNMENT FAILS TO PROTECT VULNERABLE APPRENTICES

Labor welcomes the commitment made by the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training in Senate Estimates yesterday to more effectively coordinate information between the Department and the Fair Work Ombudsman to protect vulnerable young workers from exploitation.

 

Details of egregious apprentice exploitation are becoming routine at estimate committee hearings and in Fair Work Ombudsman reports.

 

Given the urgent need to ensure the skill base of Australian industry, ending the exploitation of apprentices must be a priority.

 

Unfortunately the Turnbull government and Assistant Minister Karen Andrews are missing in action when it comes to protecting vulnerable workers.

 

This is another example of a government in terminal decline, preoccupied with internal division and incompetent leadership.

 

Labor in government will develop measures to protect and promote apprenticeships and traineeships, which are so important to our skill base and the productive performance of the economy.

 

Vulnerable workers must be protected and will be under a Shorten Labor government.