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Does anyone have the recommended pay rates for apprentices? Google has let me down, a first for me.
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http://www.dol.govt.nz/workplace/knowledgebase/item/1504
Apprentice minimum wage rates
What is the minimum wage for apprentices?
The training minimum wage only applies where employees are required under their employment agreement to undertake at least 60 credits a year of an industry training programme to become qualified for the occupation they are employed in. The training programme must be registered on the National Qualifications Framework.
As at 1 April 2013, the new entrants’ minimum wage and the training minimum wage (before tax) is $11.00 an hour. That’s $88.00 for an eight hour day, and $440.00 for a 40 hour week.
From 1 May 2013 the starting-out wage will replace the new entrants wage and training wage for under-20s.
•The new entrants wage will no longer be an option for employers, however those paying their employees on this rate can continue to do so until their employees have completed the lesser of 200 hours or 3 months continuous employment.
•Sixteen to 19-year-old trainees who were on the training minimum wage before 1 May 2013 continue on the same wage rate.
For rates prior to 1 April 2012 refer to our Previous Minimum Wage Rates information.
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Each employer deals with this differently. We start apprentices on the minimum adult wage (which is now $13.75) - they get a pay increment of 50 cents an hour at the successful completion of each block course. Some employers pay an additional tool allowance for hours worked (i.e. this does not get paid if they are sick or annual leave - the reason for this is it is a reimbursing allowance and is tax free - so applies only to hours worked). At the end of their apprenticeship when we sign up a new contract they get a $2 - $3 per hour pay rise to start them out.
We pay our apprentices while on block course (I say this becasue although I thought everyone would do this - it appears some employers do not).