Vocational education and training must include more than making coffee and sweeping up

Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) expert Schönefeldt about the rights of apprentices

During their apprenticeship, apprentices have not only duties, but also a whole range of rights. This issue has now been raised by Nico Schönefeldt, vocational education and training expert at the DIHK.

In an interview with the news agency dpa, Schönefeldt stressed that apprentices have a right to fair working hours, school attendance and being taught the training curriculum, in addition to an employment contract, appropriate remuneration, vacation and an employer's reference.

"With regards to adolescents, the working hours follow the stipulations of the Young Persons Employment Act, with regards to persons of full age, they follow the Working Hours Act", the DIHK expert explained.

As per these acts, adolescents should not have to work more than 8 hours per day and no more than 40 hours per week.

Persons of full age are permitted to work 8 hours daily on six days a week, that is, 48 hours per week, said Schönefeldt. "The working time can be expanded also to 10 hours per day and 60 hours per week if over the course of 24 weeks the average working time of 8 hours per working day is not exceeded."

Overtime may accrue, yet has to be remunerated separately or compensated for by way of time off.

Another right of apprentices he mentioned is that of attending a vocational college. The business is under obligation to instruct the apprentice to do so and to release him from work for the purpose of attending lessons.

The reason behind this: "The vocational college teaches apprentices theoretical knowledge, which complements the practical training at the business", said Schönefeldt.

With regards to suitable tasks, the DIHK vocational education and training expert feels that "some instinct is required, because not every task that does not instantly seem to be connected with the apprenticeship is necessarily alien to the vocational training provision as such."

However, Schönefeldt warns: "If somebody always just has to make coffee or sweep up in the workshop, that is not permitted."