N o. 41 of 1986. Appr enticeship and T r a de T esting Act 1986. Cer t i fied on: / /20.
INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA. N o. 41 of 1986. Appr enticeship and T r a de T esting Act 1986. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS. PART I PRELIMINARY. 1. Compliance with Constitutional requirements. 2. I nter pr et at i on. appr enti ce Boar d contr act Contr ol l er I nspect or occupat i on officer tr ade trade testing Trade Test i ng Officer this Act 3. Act binds the State. 4. Appli cat i on of ot her laws. 5. Decl ar at i on of t r ades and occupat i ons. 6. The N at i onal Appr ent i ceshi p Regi st er. PART II THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTING BOARD. 7. Est abl i shment of t he Boar d. 8. Al t er nat e member s of t he Boar d. 9. Co-opt ed member s of t he Boar d. 10. Vacat i on of office. 11. M eet i ngs of t he Boar d. 12. Funct i ons of t he Boar d. PART III APPRENTICESHIP.
Division 1 Contract of Apprenticeship. 13. Application for approval to employ apprentices. 14. M edi cal examinat i on of appr enti ces. 15. Contr act s of appr enti ceshi p. 16. Al l contr act s t o be fil ed for r egi st r at i on. 17. Regi st r at i on of contr act s. 18. Contr ol l er may r efuse r egi st r at i on. 19. I ssue of copi es of cont r act. Division 2 General Terms of Contract. 20. Tenure of contr act. 21. Ext ensi on of contr act s. 22. Reduct i on of per i od of contr act. 23. Transfer of cont r act s. 24. Suspensi on of appr enti ces. 25. Ter mi nat i on of contr act s. 26. Appr enti ces t o be appr enti ced wi t h one empl oyer. 27. Wages of appr enti ces. PART IV TRADE STANDARDS AND TRADE TESTS. 28. Application. 29. I nter pr et at i on. regi st er trade testing certificate Trade Test i ng Commi t t ee 30. Regi st er s for t r ade t est i ng. 31. Trade standards. 32. Trade t est i ng. 33. Appl i cat i on for t r ade t est s. PART V APPEALS. 34. Appeal s t o t he Boar d. 35. Det er mi nat i on of appeal s. PART VI APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTING CERTIFICATES. 36. Cer t i ficat e of Compl et i on. 37. Trade t est i ng cer t i ficat e. 38. Ot her cer t i ficat es. 39. Duplicate certificates. 40. Offences r el at i ng t o unauthor i zed use or deal i ng wit h a cer t i ficat e. PART VII TRAINING LEVIES. 41. Training levy. 42. Trust account. 43. Payments into and out of trust account. 44. Empl oyer not t o r educe wages, et c. PART VIII CONTROLLER OF APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTING. 45. Contr ol l er and Assi st ant Contr ol l er s. ii
46. Appoi ntment of i nspect or s of t r ai ni ng and t r ade t est i ng officer s. 47. Power s of i nspect or s. PART IX M I SCELLANEOUS. 48. Commi t t ees, panel s of t r ades, et c. 49. Di scl osure of i nfor mat i on. 50. Recor ds t o be kept by empl oyer s. 51. Contr ol l er s r epor t. 52. Al l owances for cer t ai n member s of t he Boar d. 53. Exempt i ons. 54. Repeal. 55. Regul at i ons. PART X SAVING AND TRANSITIONAL. 56. I nter pr et at i on. indenture Registrar repeal ed Act 57. Regi st er mai ntai ned under r epeal ed Act. 58. Saving of indentures. 59. Act i ons, et c., not t o abat e. iii
INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA. AN ACT enti t l ed Appr enticeship and T r a de T esting Act 1986, Bei ng an Act t o pr ovide for t he t r ai ni ng of appr enti ces and ot her ski l l ed wor ker s and for r el at ed purposes. PART I. PRELIMINARY. 1. COMPLIANCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. (1) Thi s Act, t o t he ext ent t hat it r egul at es or r est r i ct s a r i ght or freedom r efer r ed t o i n Subdi visi on I I I.3.C. (qualified rights) of t he Constitution, namel y (c) t he freedom from ar bi t r ar y sear ch and entr y confer r ed by Sect ion 44 of t he Constitution; and t he freedom of empl oyment confer r ed by Sect i on 48 of t he Constitution; and t he r i ght t o pr i vacy confer r ed by Sect i on 49 of t he Constitution, is a law that i s made for t hat purpose. (2) For t he purposes of Sect i on 29 of t he Organic Law on Provincial Gover nment, it is declared that this law relates to a matter of national interest. 2. INTERPRETATION. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears apprentice means a per son who i s empl oyed under a contr act of apprenticeship under this Act; Boar d means the National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board est abli shed under Sect i on 7; contract means a contr act of appr enti ceshi p enter ed i nto under t hi s Act ;
s. 3. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 Contr oller means t he Contr ol l er of Appr enti ceshi p and Trade Test i ng appointed under Section 45 and includes an Assistant Controller appoi nted under t hat sect i on; I nspect or means an I nspect or of Trai ni ng appoi nted under Sect i on 46; occupation means an occupat i on decl ar ed under Sect i on 5 t o be an occupation to which this Act applies; officer means an officer as defined i n t he Interpretation Act 1975; tr ade means a t r ade decl ar ed under Sect i on 5 t o be a t r ade t o whi ch t hi s Act applies; trade testing means trade testing in accordance with Part IV; Trade Testing Officer means a Trade Test i ng Officer appoi nted under Sect i on 46; this Act includes the Regulations. 3. ACT BINDS THE STATE. This Act binds the State and every authority and instrumentality of the State. 4. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS. The pr ovisi ons of t hi s Act appl y i n addi t i on t o and do not der ogat e any ot her l aw i n for ce i n r el at i on t o appr enti ces, t hei r empl oyment and ot her mat t er s connected with apprenticeship. 5. DECLARATION OF TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS. The M i ni st er may, on t he advice of t he Boar d gi ven after consul t at i on wit h, and having regard to the custom, requirements and interests of, industries in which a t r ade or occupat i on i s car r i ed out, by not ice i n t he N at i onal Gazette decl ar e a t r ade or occupat i on as a t r ade or occupat i on i n r espect of which the provisions of this Act apply; and define t he t r ade or occupat i on by r efer ence t o t he wor k per for med i n t hat t r ade or occupat i on. 6. THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP REGI STER. (1) Ther e i s est abli shed a N at i onal Appr enti ceshi p Regi st er. (2) The National Apprenticeship Register shall be maintained by the Contr ol l er and shal l be i n such for m as t he Boar d may det er mi ne. 2
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 7. PART II. THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTI NG BOARD. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD. (1) The M i ni st er may by not i ce i n t he N at ional Gazet t e est abli sh a body t o be known as t he N at i onal Appr enti ceshi p and Trade Test i ng Boar d. (2) The Boar d shal l consi st of (c) (d) (e) (f) t he Depar t mental H ead of t he Depar t ment r esponsi bl e for l abour mat t er s or hi s nomi nee; and t he Depar t mental H ead of t he Depar t ment r esponsi bl e for educat i on mat t er s or hi s nomi nee; and t hree per sons r epr esenti ng empl oyer s i n t he pr i vat e sect or appoi nted by t he M i ni st er by not i ce i n t he Nat i onal Gazet t e; and t hree per sons r epr esenti ng empl oyees i n t he pr i vat e sect or appoi nted by t he M i ni st er by not i ce i n t he Nat i onal Gazet t e; and t wo per sons r epr esenti ng empl oyer s i n t he publ i c sect or appoi nted by t he M i ni st er by not i ce i n t he Nat i onal Gazet t e; and t wo per sons r epr esenti ng empl oyees i n t he publ i c sect or appointed by t he M i ni st er by not i ce i n t he Nat i onal Gazet t e; and (g) t he Contr ol l er. (3) The M i ni st er may, by not i ce i n t he N at i onal Gazet t e appoi nt a member t o be t he Chai r man and anot her member t o be t he Deputy Chai r man of t he Boar d. (4) The Chai r man, Deputy Chai r man and t he member s of t he Boar d r efer r ed t o i n Subsect i on (2)(c), (d), (e) and (f) shal l hol d office for such per i od not exceedi ng t hree year s as i s det er mi ned by t he M i ni st er and ar e el i gi bl e for r e-appoi ntment. (5) The Contr ol l er shal l be t he Secr et ar y t o t he Boar d but i s not el i gibl e for appointment as Chairman or Deputy Chai rman of t he Boar d. 8. ALTERNATE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. (1) For each of t he member s of t he Boar d appoi nted under Sect i on 7(2)(c), (d), (e) and (f) an al t er nat e member may be appoi nted i n t he same manner and subject t o t he same condi t i ons as t he member for whom he i s t he al t er nat e. (2) I n t he event of t he i nabil i t y t o act of a member, hi s al t er nat e has and may exer ci se al l his power s, funct i ons, duti es and r esponsi bi li t i es under t hi s Act. (3) An al t er nat e member may, unl ess t he Boar d ot her wi se dir ect s, attend all meet i ngs of t he Boar d but shal l not, except wher e he i s at t endi ng i n t he absence of t he member for whom he i s t he al t er nat e, t ake par t i n debat e, vot e on any mat t er or be counted t owar ds a quor um. 3
s. 9. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 9. CO-OPTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. (1) The Boar d may, wher e i t consi der s i t necessar y i n r el at i on t o a mat t er befor e i t, co-opt r epr esentat i ves of i nter est ed par t i es as member s of t he Boar d. (2) A member co-opt ed under Subsect i on (1) may t ake par t i n t he del i ber at i ons of t he Boar d but shal l not vot e on any mat t er befor e t he Boar d. (3) For t he purposes of t hi s Act, ot her t han as pr ovided by t hi s sect i on, a member co-opt ed under Subsect i on (1) shal l not be r egar ded as a member of t he Boar d. 10. VACATION OF OFFICE. (1) The office of a member of t he Boar d, (ot her t han a member r efer r ed t o i n Section 7(2) and ), becomes vacant, if (c) (d) hi s appoi ntment i s, by vir t ue of Sect i on 36 of t he I nt er pr et at i on Act 1975, r evoked; or he resigns his office by writing under his hand to the Minister; or he becomes per manentl y i ncapabl e of per for mi ng hi s duti es; or he is absent, except with the written consent of the Chairman, or, in the case of t he Chai r man, wi t h t he wri t t en consent of t he M i ni st er, from t hree consecuti ve meet i ngs of t he Boar d. (2) Wher e t he office of a member i s vacat ed under Subsect i on (1), t he office of hi s al t er nat e al so becomes vacant. 11. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. (1) The Board may meet and transact business at such times and in such pl aces as ar e det er mi ned by t he Chai r man and i n any case shall meet at l east four t i mes i n each cal endar year. (2) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he is pr esent. (3) Where the Chairman is not present at a meet i ng of t he Boar d t he Deputy Chairman shall preside at that meeting. (4) Where neither the Chairman nor the Deputy Chairman is present at a meet i ng of t he Boar d, t he member s pr esent shall el ect one of t hei r number t o act as Chairman for the purposes of t hat meet i ng. (5) The quor um for a meet i ng of t he Boar d i s seven member s. (6) Quest i ons ar i si ng at a meet i ng of t he Boar d shal l be deci ded by a major it y of t he vot es of t he member s pr esent and vot i ng. (7) The member pr esi di ng has a del i berat i ve vot e and, i n t he event of an equali t y of vot es on a mat t er, has al so a cast i ng vot e. 4
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 12. (8) Subject t o t hi s sect i on t he pr ocedures of t he Boar d ar e as det er mi ned by t he Boar d. 12. FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD. The funct i ons of t he Boar d ar e (c) (d) t o i nvest i gat e and det er mine disputes in connection with apprenticeship or t r ade t est i ng r efer r ed t o i t by t he Contr oll er ; and t o det er mi ne appeal s by per sons aggr i eved by deci si ons of t he Contr ol l er ; and subject t o t he di r ect i ons of t he M i ni st er, whet her gener al l y or i n r el at i on t o any par t i cul ar mat t er, t o t ake such measures as i t may consi der s necessar y t o ensur e adequat e number s of ski l l ed or quali fied per sons i n an industry and to ensure that those persons have attained adequate st andar ds of compet ence; and whet her on r equest by t he M i ni st er, or as i n t he opi ni on of t he Boar d i t i s desi r abl e so t o do, t o i nvest i gat e and make r ecommendat i ons t o t he Minister on any matter relating to the administration of this Act. 5
s. 13. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 PART III. APPRENTICESHIP. Division 1. Contr a ct of Apprenticeship. 13. APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO EMPLOY APPRENTI CES. (1) An empl oyer who wi shes t o empl oy a per son as an appr enti ce shal l submit an appl i cat i on, i n t he for m appr oved by t he Boar d, t o t he Contr ol l er for appr oval t o empl oy t hat per son as an appr enti ce. (2) Subject t o Subsect i on (3) t he Contr ol l er may gr ant or r efuse t o gr ant appr oval t o empl oy an appr enti ce. (3) The Controller shall not grant approval under this section unless the Contr ol l er i s sat i sfied t hat t he empl oyer has r easonabl e facil i t i es for t he pr oper t r ai ni ng of appr enti ces pr oposed t o be empl oyed. (4) An empl oyer whose appl i cat i on has been r efused may appeal t o t he Boar d i n accor dance wi t h Par t V. (5) An empl oyer who i s guil t y of an offence. in support of an application under Subsection (1), makes a false decl ar at i on; or wi t hout appr oval under Subsect i on (1), empl oys a per son as an appr enti ce, Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 14. MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF APPRENTICES. (1) A per son who wi shes t o be empl oyed as an appr enti ce shal l submi t hi msel f t o medi cal exami nat ion by a medi cal pr act i t i oner appr oved by t he Contr ol l er and t he empl oyer. (2) The cost of t he exami nat i on under Subsect i on (1) shal l be bor ne by t he empl oyer. 15. CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP. (1) Subject t o t hi s Act, a per son who wi shes t o be empl oyed as an appr enti ce by an empl oyer shall enter i nto a contr act of appr enti ceshi p wi t h t hat empl oyer. (2) A contr act of appr enti ceshi p shal l be i n such for m as i s det er mi ned by t he Boar d; and contai n such mat t er s as ar e pr escr i bed. (3) A per son shal l not enter i nto a contr act of appr enti ceship unless 6
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 16. subject t o Subsect i on (4), he has at t ai ned t he age or appar ent age of 15 years; and in the case of an apprenticeship in a trade for which an entry quali ficat i on i s pr escr i bed, he possesses t hose qual i ficat i ons for t hat t r ade. (4) A per son bel ow t he age of 15 year s may with the consent of his parent or guardian; or wi t h t he consent of t he Contr ol l er i f compl i ance wit h Subsect i on (1) i s not practicable, enter into a contract of apprenticeship, and subject to this Act, a contract so enter ed into remains valid according to its tenor notwithstanding that the person has in the meanti me at t ai ned t he age of 15 year s. (5) A contr act of appr enti ceshi p enter ed i nto ot her t han i n accor dance wi t h this Act is invalid. 16. ALL CONTRACTS TO BE FILED FOR REGISTRATION. (1) A contract of apprenticeship made in accordance with this Act shall, within one month from t he dat e of t he maki ng of t he contr act, be fil ed by t he empl oyer wi t h t he Contr ol l er for r egi st r at i on. (2) A contr act fil ed under Subsect ion (1) shall be in triplicate; and accompanied by a medical certificate certifying that the apprentice is medically fit. (3) An empl oyer who fai l s t o compl y wi t h Subsect i on (1) or (2), i s guil t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 17. REGISTRATION OF CONTRACTS. (1) The Contr ol l er may, on r ecei pt of t he documents r equi r ed under Sect i on 16, r egi st er and deal wit h t he contr act as pr escr i bed. (2) A contr act has no for ce unti l r egi st er ed under t hi s sect i on. 18. CONTROLLER MAY REFUSE REGISTRATION. (1) Wher e t he Contr ol l er i s sat i sfied t hat a contr act i s not i n t he best i nter est of t he per son i ntended t o be empl oyed as an appr enti ce, t he Contr ol l er may r efuse t o r egi st er t he contr act. (2) A party to a contract which has been refused registration under this sect i on may appeal to the Board in accordance with Part V. 7
s. 19. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 19. I SSUE OF COPI ES OF CONTRACT. (1) The Contr ol l er shal l i ssue t o an appr enti ce and hi s empl oyer, each, a r egi st er ed copy of a contr act. (2) A dupl i cat e copy of a contr act may onl y be i ssued for such reasons, in such manner and t o such per sons as ar e pr escr i bed. 20. TENURE OF CONTRACT. Division 2. Gener a l T er ms of Contr a ct. (1) A contr act enter ed i nto and r egi st er ed in accor dance wi t h t hi s Act (c) i s bi ndi ng on t he empl oyer and t he appr enti ce. t o whom i t r el at es; and i s enfor ceabl e onl y i n r el at i on t o t he mat t ers st at ed i n i t ; and unl ess a l esser per i od i s speci fied i n i t, shal l be for t he pr escr i bed per i od. (2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1) or any provision in the contract to the contr ar y, an appr enti ce shal l, for t he fir st t hree months of t he contr act, be empl oyed on pr obat i on. 21. EXTENSION OF CONTRACTS. (1) In this section, wor king day means a day in which a course of i nst r uct i ons, as det er mi ned by t he Boar d i n r el at i on t o a t r ade, is given and on which t he appr enti ce i s r equi r ed t o at t end. (2) Subject t o Subsect i on (3), i f t he Contr ol l er i s sat i sfied t hat i t i s necessar y t o do so, he may author ize t hat t he per i od of contr act for an appr enti ce be ext ended for such per i od as i s det er mi ned by t he Contr ol l er. (3) An extension under Subsection (2) shall be not mor e t han one day for each wor ki ng day for whi ch t he appr enti ce was absent from duty; and not exceed 180 days in aggr egat e or consecuti ve wor ki ng days. 22. REDUCTION OF PERIOD OF CONTRACT. Wher e t he Contr ol l er i s sat i sfied t hat a per son has previously undertaken technical training which relates di r ect l y t o t he t r ade in whi ch he i s or wi shes t o be appr enti ced; and that training has the approval of the Board for that trade, t he Contr ol l er may author i ze t he r educt i on of t he per i od of t he contr act t o such l esser per i od as i s det er mi ned by t he Boar d. 8
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 23. 23. TRANSFER OF CONTRACTS. (1) Subject t o t hi s sect i on, t he r ights and obl igat i ons of an empl oyer under a contract may, with t he consent of t he appr enti ce; and t he appr oval of t he Contr ol l er, be t r ansfer r ed t o anot her empl oyer. (2) An approval under Subsection (1) shall not be granted if the Controller has r easonabl e gr ounds t o beli eve t hat t he t ransfer i s not i n t he best i nter est s of t he appr enti ce. (3) A t r ansfer of a contr act has no for ce or effect unti l endor sed and si gned by t he for mer empl oyer and future empl oyer and t he appr enti ce, or, i f t he appr enti ce i s bel ow t he age of 15 year s, by his parent, guardian or the Contr ol l er, as t he case may be; and r egi st er ed by t he Contr ol l er. (4) For t he pur poses of Subsect i on (3), t he empl oyer t o whom t he contr act i s transferred shall, within one month from the date the contract is endorsed and signed in accordance with Paragraph of that subsection, submit the contract to t he Contr ol l er for r egi st r at i on i n t he pr escr i bed manner. (5) An empl oyer, who fai l s t o submit t he contr act wi t hi n t he t ime pr escr i bed under Subsect i on (4), i s guil t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 24. SUSPENSION OF APPRENTI CES. (1) I f an empl oyer i s sat i sfied t hat an appr enti ce has commi t t ed a ser i ous br each of t he t er ms of hi s contr act, t he empl oyer may suspend t he appr enti ce wi t hout pay for a per i od not exceedi ng one month; and shal l, wit hi n t hree wor ki ng days from t he dat e of suspensi on, r epor t i n wri t i ng, t he r easons for t he suspensi on, t o t he Contr ol l er. (2) On r ecei pt of t he r epor t under Subsect i on (1), t he Contr ol l er shal l i nvest i gat e, or cause an i nvest igat i on t o be made i nto t he suspensi on; and wi t hi n seven wor ki ng days from t he dat e of t he r ecei pt of t he r epor t, confir m, set asi de or r educe t he per i od of suspensi on. (3) Wher e i n accor dance wi t h Subsect i on (2) t he suspensi on i s set asi de or r educed, t he empl oyer shal l pay t o t he appr enti ce such r emuner at i on as may have been wi t hhel d from t he appr enti ce duri ng t he per i od of suspensi on. 9
s. 25. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 (4) An empl oyer or appr enti ce aggr i eved by t he deci si on of t he Contr ol l er under t hi s sect i on may appeal t o t he Boar d i n accor dance wi t h Par t V. (5) An employer who fails to comply with Subsection (1), is guilty of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 25. TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS. (1) A contr act may be t er mi nat ed (c) by ei t her par t y at any t i me wit hi n t he per i od of pr obat i on r efer r ed t o under Sect i on 20(2); or by mutual agr eement i n wri t i ng bet ween t he empl oyer and (i) (ii) t he appr enti ce; or wher e t he appr enti ce i s bel ow t he age of 15 year s, t he par ent, guar di an or Contr ol l er, as t he case may be; or on r equest by a par t y t o t he contr act, by t he Contr ol l er, i f t he Contr ol l er is sat isfied t hat it is necessar y t o do so; or (d) by t he Contr ol l er on t he r ecommendat i on of t he Boar d wher e (i) (ii) t he Boar d consi der s i t desi r abl e so t o do; or t he Boar d, after consi der i ng a submi ssi on by t he Contr ol l er, so det er mi nes. (2) A t er mi nat i on of contr act under Subsect i on (1) or shall, within seven days from t he dat e of t er mi nat i on, be not i fied by t he empl oyer t o t he Contr ol l er, and an empl oyer who fai ls t o gi ve t he not i ficat i on wi t hi n t he per i od r equi r ed under t hi s subsect i on, i s guil t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. (3) The Contr ol l er shal l not t er mi nat e a contr act under Subsect i on (1)(c), unl ess he has gi ven bot h par t i es t o t he contr act t he oppor t uni t y t o appear or t o make r epr esentat i ons befor e hi m. (4) The Contr ol l er shal l r ecor d t he t er mi nat i on on t he fil e copy of each cont r act t er mi nat ed under t hi s sect i on. (5) A par t y t o a contr act t er mi nat ed by t he Contr ol l er under Subsect i on (1)(c) or (d) may appeal t o t he Boar d i n accor dance wi t h Par t V. (6) A t er mi nat i on of contr act does not affect any r i ght of act i on whi ch may have accr ued befor e t he t er mi nat i on and for t hat purpose t hat act i on may be conti nued as i f t he contr act was st i ll enfor ceabl e. 10
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 26. 26. APPRENTICES TO BE APPRENTICED WITH ONE EMPLOYER. (1) A per son shal l not, whi l e a contr act of appr enti ceshi p i s i n for ce, enter i nto anot her contr act of appr enti ceshi p wi t h anot her empl oyer. (2) A per son shal l not i nduce or at t empt t o i nduce an appr enti ce t o t er mi nat e hi s contr act wi t h hi s empl oyer ; or empl oy a per son whom he knows i s under a contr act of appr enti ceshi p wi t h anot her empl oyer. (3) A per son who cont r avenes Subsect i on (1) or (2), i s gui lt y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng six mont hs. 27. WAGES OF APPRENTICES. (1) An apprentice shall be paid such rates of pay as are determined by the Boar d i n accor dance wi t h t hi s sect i on. (2) A det er mi nat i on for t he purposes of Subsect i on (1) shall specify the minimum hourly rates of pay for each year of apprenticeship; and may pr ovide di ffer ent mi ni mum hourl y r at es of pay for di ffer ent cl asses of appr enti ces or t r ades, and i n so doi ng t he Boar d may appl y such met hods of di ffer enti at i on as i t consi der s appr opr i at e. (3) All determinations under this section shall be published in the National Gazet t e. 11
s. 28. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 28. APPLICATION. PART IV. TRADE STANDARDS AND TRADE TESTS. Thi s Par t does not appl y t o a per son who i s under a contr act of appr enti ceshi p i n accor dance wi t h Par t I I I. 29. INTERPRETATION. In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears register means a r egi st er est abli shed under Sect i on 30; trade testing certificate means a cer t ificat e i ssued under Sect i on 37; Trade Testing Committee means a commi t t ee const i t uted i n accor dance wi t h Sect i on 48 for t he purposes of t hi s Par t. 30. REGISTERS FOR TRADE TESTING. The Contr ol l er shall cause t o be kept a r egi st er or r egi st er s for t r ade t est i ng i n such for m as may be det er mi ned by hi m; and cause t o be enter ed on t he r egi st er or r egi st er s, such mat t er s as may be r equi r ed under t hi s Act or as ar e pr escr i bed. 31. TRADE STANDARDS. (1) The Regulat i ons may est abli sh t r ade st andar ds for and i n r espect of t r ades or occupat i ons. (2) A standard established in accordance with Subsection (1) may pr ovide for di ffer ent gr ades of st andar ds for a par t i cul ar t r ade or occupat i on; or adopt a standard laid down by any body, whether or not within the country, with such modifications (if any) as may be pr escr i bed. 32. TRADE TESTING. (1) For each t r ade or occupat i on t her e shal l be such gr ades of t r ade t est s as may be approved by the Board. (2) Al l t r ade t est s i n al l gr ades shall be conduct ed in such form and manner and on such subjects as the Regulations may pr escr i be; and unl ess t he Boar d ot her wi se di r ect s, at i nst i t uti ons appr oved by t he Boar d. 12
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 33. 33. APPLICATION FOR TRADE TESTS. (1) Subject t o Subsect i on (3), a per son who wi shes t o t ake a t rade t est i n any gr ade may appl y t o t he Boar d or t o a per son or author i t y appr oved by t he Boar d for t hat purpose. (2) An appl i cat i on for t he purposes of Subsect i on (1) shal l be i n a for m appr oved by t he Trade Test i ng Commit t ee and shal l be accompani ed by t he appr opr i at e fee, as pr escr i bed. (3) A per son i s not el i gi bl e t o t ake a t r ade t est unl ess he possesses t he pr escr i bed r equi r ements. (4) A person who, in support of an application under Subsection (1), makes a fal se decl ar at i on or gives fal se i nfor mat i on, i s guil t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 13
s. 34. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 34. APPEALS TO THE BOARD. PART V. APPEALS. (1) A per son may appeal t o t he Boar d against (c) t he r efusal by t he Contr ol l er t o gr ant an appr oval for empl oyment under Sect i on 13; or t he r efusal by t he Contr ol l er t o r egi st er a contr act under Sect i on 18; or t he deci si on of t he Contr ol l er i n r espect of a suspensi on under Sect i on 24; or (d) t he deci si on by t he Contr ol l er t o t er mi nat e a contr act under Sect i on 25; or (e) t he r efusal by t he Contr ol l er t o gr ant a cer t i ficat e under Par t VI. (2) An appeal shall be made i n wri t i ng wit hin one month from t he dat e of r efusal or deci si on, as t he case may be; and l odged i n such manner as det er mi ned by t he Contr ol l er. 35. DETERMINATION OF APPEALS. (1) Al l appeal s shall be det er mi ned by t he Boar d and for t hat purpose t he Boar d shal l al l ow t he par t i es t o appear and t o make r epr esentat i ons befor e i t. (2) The Boar d may make such or der s as i t consi der s appr opr i at e i n r el at i on t o any mat t er befor e i t. (3) A deci si on of t he Boar d i s, subject t o Sect i on 155(5) (The National Judicial Syst em) of t he Consti tuti on, final. (4) The pr ocedur es of t he Boar d on an appeal ar e as det er mi ned by t he Boar d. 14
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 36. PART VI. APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTING CERTIFICATES. 36. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. (1) The Contr ol l er may, i n t he for m det er mi ned by t he Boar d, i ssue a Cer t i ficat e of Compl et i on t o a per son who has compl et ed hi s contr act of apprenticeship in accordance with Part III. (2) I f under Subsect i on (1) t he Cont r ol l er deci des not t o i ssue a cer t i ficat e t o a per son, t hat per son may appeal t o t he Board i n accor dance wi t h Par t V. (3) For t he purposes of Subsect i on (1), t he empl oyer shal l, wi t hin one month after t he dat e of compl et i on of t he contr act, endor se on t he cont r act such par t i cul ar s as r equi r ed by t he Contr ol l er and submi t t he contr act t o t he Contr ol l er. (4) A person who, in endorsing a contract under Subsection (3), makes a false st at ement or pr ovides fal se par t i cul ar s, i s gui l t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 37. TRADE TESTING CERTIFICATE. (1) The Contr ol l er may, on t he r ecommendat i on of a Trade Test i ng Officer, i ssue a t r ade t est i ng cer t i ficat e of t he appr opr i at e gr ade, t o a per son who has, i n accor dance wi t h Par t I V, successful l y compl et ed a t r ade t est of a gr ade pr escr i bed for a t r ade or occupat i on. (2) I f under Subsect i on (1) t he Contr ol l er deci des not t o i ssue a t r ade t est i ng cer t i ficat e t o a per son, t hat per son may appeal t o t he Boar d i n accor dance wi t h Par t V. (3) A cer t i ficat e i ssued under t hi s sect i on shal l be signed by t he Contr ol l er and shall contain such matters or particulars as are prescribed. (4) For each cer t i ficat e i ssued under t hi s sect i on, t he Contr ol l er shal l cause t o be enter ed on t he r egist er est abl i shed under Par t I V (c) t he name of t he per son t o whom t he cer t i ficat e i s i ssued; and t he t r ade or occupat i on i n r espect of whi ch t he cer t i ficat e i s i ssued; and t he gr ade of cer t i ficat e; and (d) any ot her par t i cul ar s t he Contr ol l er consi der s necessar y. 38. OTHER CERTIFICATES. Ther e may be i ssued in such for m as is or ar e pr escr i bed; and in such manner and to such persons as are prescribed; and 15
s. 39. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 (c) i n r el at i on t o such mat t er s and t he condi t i ons of el igi bi li t y, as ar e pr escr i bed, such ot her cer t i ficat es as t he M i ni st er, act i ng on t he advice of t he Boar d, author i zes. 39. DUPLICATE CERTIFICATES. A duplicate copy of a certificate issued under Sections 36, 37 and 38 may be issued to such persons, in such manner, for such reasons and upon payment of such fees, as ar e pr escr i bed. 40. OFFENCES RELATING TO UNAUTHORIZED USE OR DEALING WITH A CERTIFICATE. (1) In this section, certificate means a certificate issued under Section 36, 37 or 38; and a dupl i cat e cer t i ficat e i ssued under Sect i on 39. (2) A per son who (c) (d) uses a cer t i ficat e t o whi ch he i s not enti t l ed; or al t er s, defaces or makes a model, l i keness or facsi mi l e of a cer t i ficat e wi t h i ntent t o decei ve or defraud; or bei ng enti t l ed t o a cer t i ficat e, wit h i ntent t o decei ve or defraud (i) (ii) is guil t y of an offence. gi ves t he cer t i ficat e t o anot her per son; or al l ows anot her per son t o use t he cer t i ficat e; or fai l s, wit hout good cause, t o pr oduce or surr ender a cer t i ficat e when r equest ed t o do so by t he Contr ol l er or a per son author i zed by t he Contr ol l er, Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 16
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 41. 41. TRAINING LEVY. PART VII. TRAINING LEVIES. (1) A t r ai ni ng l evy i s imposed on ever y empl oyer i n r espect of al l hi s empl oyees who ar e appr enti ces or per sons t o whom Par t I V r el at es. (2) The l evy shall be assessed and col l ect ed as pr escr i bed under t he r egul at i ons. 42. TRUST ACCOUNT. For t he purposes of t hi s Par t, t her e shall be est abl i shed, i n accor dance wi t h Sect i on 15 of t he Public Finances (Management) Act 1995, a trust account within the Trust Fund. 43. PAYMENTS INTO AND OUT OF TRUST ACCOUNT. (1) Al l moneys r eceived, from t he col l ect i on of t he l evy i n accor dance wi t h Sect i on 41, shall be pai d t o t he cr edi t of t he t r ust account est abli shed i n accor dance wi t h Sect i on 42. onl y. (2) Payments out of t he t r ust account shal l be made for a pr escr i bed purpose 44. EMPLOYER NOT TO REDUCE WAGES, ETC. (1) An empl oyer shal l not, by r eason of his liability to pay levies under this Par t, r educe, di r ect l y or i ndi r ect l y, t he wages or sal ar y or ot her benefit s or emol uments t o whi ch an appr enti ce or a per son t o whom Par t I V r el at es i s enti t l ed under hi s contr act of empl oyment or under any ot her l aw. (2) An empl oyer who contr avenes Subsect i on (1), i s guil t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. 17
s. 45. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 PART VIII. CONTROLLER OF APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTI NG. 45. CONTROLLER AND ASSISTANT CONTROLLERS. (1) The M i ni st er may, by not i ce i n t he N at ional Gazet t e, appoi nt a Contr ol l er of Appr enti ceshi p and Trade Test i ng; and one or mor e Assi st ant Contr ol l er s of Appr enti ceshi p and Trade Test i ng as t he M i ni st er consider s necessar y for t he pur poses of t his Act. (2) Subject t o t he di r ect i ons of t he Cont r ol l er, an Assi st ant Cont r ol l er has and may exer ci se t he power s and funct i ons of t he Contr ol l er under t hi s Act. (3) The Contr ol l er and Assi st ant Contr ol l er have al l t he power s of an I nspect or under this Act. 46. APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS OF TRAINING AND TRADE TESTING OFFICERS. The M i ni st er may appoi nt an officer t o be an I nspect or of Trai ning; or a Trade Test i ng Officer, for t he purposes of t his Act. 47. POWERS OF I NSPECTORS. (1) An I nspect or may (c) (d) (e) enter at al l r easonabl e t i mes on any pr emi ses i n or on whi ch he has r easonabl e cause t o bel i eve t hat an appr enti ce i s, or, wi t hi n t he pr evious si x months, has been empl oyed; and in relation to Paragraph, int er view any per son empl oyed on t he premises on any requirement under this Act; and r equi r e an appr enti ce t o appear befor e hi m, at such t i me and place fixed by t he I nspect or and i nter view t he appr enti ce on any r equi r ement under this Act; and r equi r e an appr enti ce or hi s empl oyer, or bot h t he appr enti ce and hi s empl oyer, t o pr oduce r ecor ds t hat may be r equi r ed t o be kept i n accor dance wi t h t hi s Act ; and examine any work done by an apprentice and inspect any machinery, equipment, training aids and facilities t he I nspect or consider s necessar y i n or der t o ascer t ai n whet her t he pr ovi si ons of t hi s Act have been complied with. (2) For t he purposes of an i nspect i on under Subsect i on (1), t he I nspect or shall not i fy t he empl oyer or hi s r epr esentat i ve of hi s pr esence and, i f r equest ed by t he 18
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 47. empl oyer, t he I nspect or shal l be accompanied duri ng t he i nspect i on by t he empl oyer or hi s r epr esentat i ve, as t he case may be. (3) An I nspect or exer ci si ng or i ntendi ng t o exer ci se any of t he power s under t hi s sect i on shal l, when r equest ed, pr oduce wri t t en evidence of hi s appoi ntment as an I nspect or. (4) Nothing under this section authorizes an Inspector to enter or inspect any pr i vat e dwel li ng house wi t hout t he consent of t he occupi er of t he dwel l i ng house. 19
s. 48. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 PART I X. M I SCELLANEOUS. 48. COMMITTEES, PANELS OF TRADES, ETC. (1) Ther e may be est abli shed for t he purposes of t hi s Act such commi t t ees, panel s of t r ade and occupat i on speci al i st s as ar e pr escr i bed. (2) The Regul at i ons may pr escr i be the qualifications and the manner of appointment of an occupation specialist; and t he const i t uti on and pr ocedur e of a commi t t ee or panel of t r ade. (3) A commi t t ee, panel of t r ade or occupat i on speci al i st may exer ci se such powers and perform such functions under this Act as the Minister on the advice of t he Boar d may det er mi ne or as ar e pr escr i bed. 49. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. (1) Subject t o Subsect i on (2), a member of t he Boar d or an officer who, except for purpose of t he per for mance of hi s funct i ons and dut ies under t his Act, discloses to any per son, busi ness gr oup, company, cor por at i on or any ot her busi ness associ at i on, any information in relation to the financial affairs, plant or equipment or devel opment pl ans, of a per son, acqui r ed i n t he per for mance of the functions and duti es of t he member or officer, as t he case may be, under t hi s Act, i s guil t y of an offence. Penal t y: A fine not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for a t er m not exceedi ng si x months. (2) Subsect i on (1) does not appl y t o a di sclosure made i n cr i mi nal pr oceedi ngs i n accor dance wi t h t hi s Act. 50. RECORDS TO BE KEPT BY EMPLOYERS. (1) An empl oyer shal l, i n r espect of each appr enti ce empl oyed by hi m, keep such r ecor ds as ar e det er mi ned by t he Board. (2) All records shall be kept in such manner as det er mi ned by t he Contr ol l er. 51. CONTROLLER S REPORT. The Contr ol l er shal l, at each meet i ng of t he Boar d, submi t a r epor t t o t he Boar d on such st at i st i cs, as r equi r ed by t he Boar d i n r el at i on t o appr enti ceshi p or t r ade t est i ng, cover ing t he per i od from t he pr evious meet i ng t o t he pr esent meet i ng of t he Boar d; and any ot her mat t er t hat r equi r es consi der at i on by t he Boar d. 20
Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 s. 52. 52. ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. A member of t he Boar d, ot her t han a member who i s an officer of t he Public Ser vice, may be pai d such fees and al l owances as det er mi ned under t he Boar ds (Fees and Allowances) Act 1955. 53. EXEMPTIONS. (1) The M i ni st er may exempt a per son or cl ass of per sons t o whom Par t I V appl i es; or an appr enti ce or cl ass of appr enti ces; or (c) an empl oyer or cl ass of empl oyer s, from al l or any pr ovisi ons of t hi s Act. (2) Notification of an exemption granted under Subsection (1) shall be publ i shed i n t he N at ional Gazet t e. 54. REPEAL. The Apprenticeship Act (Chapter 161) is repealed. 55. REGULATIONS. The H ead of St at e, act i ng wi t h, and i n accor dance wi t h, t he advice of t he National Executive Council, may make regulations not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters that by this Act ar e r equi r ed or per mi t t ed t o be pr escr i bed, or t hat ar e necessar y t o be pr escr i bed for car r ying out or gi ving effect t o t hi s Act and i n particular for prescribing (c) (d) (e) the qualifications, including age and educational entry levels for appr enti ceshi p or t r ade t est i ng i n any t r ade or occupat i on; and t he per i od of appr enti ceshi p or t r ade t est i ng i n any t r ade or occupat i on; and t he pr act i cal t r ai ni ng t o be pr ovided by empl oyer s for appr enti ces or per sons under t r ade t est i ng; and the practical and t heor et i cal t r ai ning t o be pr ovided ot her t han by empl oyer s; and t he i mposi t i on of penal t i es of fines not exceedi ng K 1,000.00 or i mpr i sonment for t er ms not exceedi ng si x months for offences agai nst or contr aventi ons of t he Regul at i ons. 21
s. 56. Apprenticeship and Trade Testing 1986 56. INTERPRETATION. PART X. SAVI NG AND TRANSITIONAL. In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears indenture means an Indenture of Apprenticeship entered into under the r epeal ed Act ; Registrar means t he Regi st r ar of Appr enti ces appoi nted under t he r epeal ed Act ; repealed Act means t he Act r epeal ed by Sect i on 54. 57. REGISTER MAINTAINED UNDER REPEALED ACT. The appr enti ceshi p r egi st er mai ntai ned by t he Regi st r ar under t he r epeal ed Act immediately befor e t he commencement of t hi s Act shall on t hat commencement, be deemed t o be t he N at i onal Appr enti ceshi p Regi st er est abli shed under t hi s Act. 58. SAVING OF INDENTURES. An i ndenture enter ed i nto i n accor dance wi t h t he r epeal ed Act and exist i ng immediatel y befor e t he commencement of t hi s Act, shal l, on t hat commencement, be deemed t o have been enter ed i nto and r egist er ed under t hi s Act and t hi s Act appl i es accor di ngl y. 59. ACTI ONS, ETC., NOT TO ABATE. Wher e, i mmedi at ely befor e t he comi ng i nto oper at i on of this Act, any ar bi t r at i on, act i on or pr oceedi ng was pending or exist i ng under t he r epeal ed Act, t he ar bi t r at i on, act i on or pr oceedi ng, as t he case may be, does not, on t he comi ng i nto oper at i on of t hi s Act, abat e, di sconti nue but i t may be pr osecuted, continued or enfor ced under t he r epeal ed Act as i f t hi s Act had not come i nto oper at i on. Office of Legislative Counsel, PNG 22