Unionlearn launches Traineeship charter
The learning and skills arm of union TUC has launched a new charter that sets out what young people should expect from the government’s new Traineeships.
Although designed for union reps to negotiate better schemes with employers, Unionlearn said its guidelines are also useful for training providers and young people seeking to know what to expect from a good quality work placement.
The charter states:
- Where work of value is done by a trainee, employers should pay them. This will also help prevent trainees displacing existing workers.
- Placements should give young people the skills relevant to their aims and the needs of the local labour market to raise their chances of future employment.
- Trainees should be offered careers guidance and advice on other work-related issues such as health and safety and employment rights.
- Qualifications received on a traineeship should count towards an apprenticeship framework.
Tom Wilson, director of Unionlearn, said: “Traineeships can provide a vital bridge between education and work or an Apprenticeship – but only if they are of sufficiently high quality.
“Bad schemes can exploit trainees and displace existing workers from paid employment without doing anything to help young people into work. For a work placement to be genuinely useful it should offer fair pay when work of value is done, proper careers guidance and a guaranteed job interview at the end.”
Natalie Thornhill
(Pictured: Unionlearn director Tom Wilson)
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