asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the large numbers of apprentices that are rendered unemployed as soon as they have completed their apprenticeships.
Written Answers. - Unemployed Apprentices.
102.
When an apprenticeship contract terminates on the completion of the statutory period of apprenticeship, there is no subsequent obligation on the part of the employer to retain the apprentice in employment or on the part of the apprentice to remain in the employment of the employer. Neither is required to notify AnCO or the National Manpower Service of the situation. Accordingly, there is no comprehensive information available as to the employment situation of people on completion of their apprenticeships. The National Manpower Service estimate that approximately 350 of the skilled persons on their register registered with them following completion of apprenticeships last year. As there is no requirement on qualified craftsmen to register with the NMS, this figure cannot be taken to accurately reflect the number of craftsmen who became unemployed in 1981 on completion of their apprenticeships. The NMS figure is also considered to include some who have subsequently secured employment but have not informed the NMS accordingly. The NMS are doing everything possible to help these craftsmen secure employment.