Quality in Apprenticeship in the European Union - UEAPME

Employer
Employers involved come from all sectors, except public
administration, and any kind of enterprise (big, small, mediumsized
and craft enterprises).
For craft enterprises, there are especially favourable conditions,
concerning duration, age at hiring and in-company tutors.
In fact, duration of employment is from 18 months to 4 years (never
longer than the duration established by the National Contract of the
Sector), but in craft companies; the duration can be up to 5 years.
Contract/Form
The apprenticeship is regulated by a contract between the employer
and the apprentice. The contract characteristics are determined by
labour laws (also the laws concerning youth employment) and by
the National Collective Contracts of the Sector.
NCC (The National Collective of Employees - Contratto Collettivo
Nazionale dei Lavoratori, CCNL) is signed by the unions and
employers’ organisations and it regulates all the social and working
conditions concerning each sector. The apprenticeship contract
establishes the duration of the relationship, the salary, the
apprentice’s and employer’s obligations, the characteristics of the
training, the worker’s qualification at the end of the apprenticeship.
Principles of the Model
Training on-the-job is probably the most important principle of
Italian apprenticeship. In fact, practical training corresponds to in
company work.
Indeed, theoretical training and work must be complementary.
Optional Opportunities
There are no optional opportunities provided by national law. Of
course, every Region and every District, according to Italian law, can
organise specific programmes for apprentices or decide to offer
special opportunities.
Objectives of the Contract and the Model
To prepare young people for work, by practical training
(corresponding to in-company work) and by out-of-company
training. To make the entrance of young people in the labour
market easier. In fact, firms are encouraged, because the State pays
pension contributions that are generally the employers’
responsibility.
Theoretical Training (Time and Place)
Out-of-company training comprises at least 120 hours per year. The
training must take place outside the company, but it must be within
regular working hours. The apprentice also receives a salary for the
training hours and can be absent only for reasons established in his
contract. Training takes place in a training centre or in a technical
school, authorised by Regional Government according to specific
characteristics, established by regional laws. National laws on
vocational training and apprenticeship establish that the centres
must receive a special validation from Regional Government.
Practical Training (Time and Place)
Practical training corresponds to in-company work. The training
centre staff can decide to organise practical lessons within the
theoretical course (for instance in laboratories). There are no special
programmes: the apprentice works according to his professional
role. The law establishes that work must not be repetitive.
Only the National Collective Contract for Mechanical Industries has
established that the apprentices have to complete 40 hours per year
of in-company practical training. The trainer is the in-company
tutor. There is no special programme for this training.
Obligations of the Employer
The employer has to establish an apprenticeship contract. He has to
ensure the apprentice’s training through work and has to send the
apprentices to out-of-company training.
When the employer engages the apprentice, he/she has to register
at SCICA (Labour Services, Sezioni Circoscrizionali per l’Impiego)
and at INPS (National Institute for Pensions Contributions). He/she
has to appoint the in-company tutor. He/she has to designate the
in-company tutor. Regarding services, the employer has also to
communicate the apprentice’s personal data and the tutor’s data to
the Public Authority concerned with apprenticeship training
(Region or District). He/she has to pay the salary. He/she has to
respect all the laws regarding employees under age of 18. He/she
has to insure the apprentice against accidents during work. At the
end of the apprenticeship, he/she has to make a written declaration
of the skills obtained by the apprentice. He/she has to do this
declaration also when the apprenticeship ceases working before the
date established by the contract.
Obligations of the Learning Apprentice
The apprentice has to attend training, to work in the company and
to respect the company rules and the training centre’s rules.
Qualified Staff
Theoretical training: there are no national standards for trainers,
not only for apprenticeship, but also for all vocational training. At
national level, there is only the National Collective Contact for
Trainers that establishes professional requirements and relative
skills. Every Regional Government can decide special standards for
trainers and the procedure for their employment. Of course, every
centre employs trainers according to its own standards.
In-company work: there is a tutor, designated by the company. The
Department of Labour has just determined the characteristics of incompany
tutor. He has to be a qualified employee, engaged in the
same field as the apprentice. He has to have the same or a superior
qualification to the one being obtained by the apprentice at the end
of his training. If possible, the tutor will have worked for at least 3
years in the firm. The law has established the tutor’s role and
necessary skills, i.e. to orient and support the apprentice and to
assure a link between work and out-of-company training.
The tutor has to attend a period of training of at least 8 hours to
understand his role and its required skills.
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