Skills subsidy McMockery

Millions of dollars in training subsidies are being accepted by McDonald's and other retailers so they can teach basic skills such as using a cash register.

Dave Oliver, national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), said employers should be providing basic training, such as using cash registers, without resorting to the public purse.

"We need to make the distinction between what are labour market programs and what are training programs," said Mr Oliver, a member of the apprenticeships taskforce.

Retailers and some employer groups have slammed calls to redirect $1.2 billion in training subsidies to manufacturing and industrial trades, after the Federal Government taskforce on apprenticeships called for a shake-up in public training subsidies.

The AMWU is campaigning to improve standards and conditions for our members working in skilled trades and in particular, improving conditions and pay for apprentices.

Government and employer inaction has seen apprentice numbers fall dramatically, while employers have been encouraged to treat apprentices as cheap labour while they try to break up trade skills to lower the skill level and pay of skilled trade workers.

The only sustainable way to drive the productivity growth we need is through proper workforce skills development, and it's selfish for employers to rely solely on the taxpayer to deliver skilled workers to their door as though they themselves had no responsibility at all.