ETC Traineeship Scheme matches worker skills with client needs

Training, both on the job and specifically job-related, while gaining from financial support through the Employment and Training Corporation, is the concept behind the ETC's Traineeship Scheme (TES).

"Training generates profits," Joe Bezzina, senior executive of the ETC's Training Division, told The Sunday Times. "We need to raise standards," but we also need to change the employers' mentality that training benefits employees, who are then poached after the employer has trained them.

"The Traineeship Scheme is tailor-made to the employer's specific needs," Mr Bezzina explained. "A substantial part (80 per cent) is practical, on-the-job training; the remainder is through tutorials."

The scheme is aimed at providing long-term skills to trainees, who are unemployed and looking for a job that requires a specific skill - anything from IT, construction, electrical, plumbing and welding to butchers (at the abbatoir), lab technicians and childcare assistants.

Under the scheme, clients are employed full time in the private and parastatal sectors for a pre-determined training period, which may vary from a minimum of 13 weeks to 52 weeks, subject to the programme's training content.

"The training programme is designed in full collaboration with the sponsoring employer," Mr Bezzina, who also runs the ETC's Valletta Training Centre, said. "Therefore, it is the skills the employer needs that are provided to the client."

Five levels of support

There are five levels of support under the TES:

¤ Financial - employers are reimbursed 25 per cent of the national minimum wage for the duration of the traineeship. If the client comes from a disadvantaged group - disabled, over age 40, an ex convict or a rehabilitated drug addict - the subsidy goes up to 50 per cent.

¤ Tutorial - when companies employ over 10 clients at a go within the scheme, the ETC undertakes to provide tutorials at its own expense. The ETC enters into a partnership with other private and national organisations to provide the required training. These include the MITTS Training College in Swatar, the Federation of Building Contractors, the Institute of Tourism Studies and the Veterinary Services Department.

¤ Manpower - employers are free to recruit whoever they choose within the scheme. These are either referred by the ETC directly or the employers can even refer people of their own choice.

¤ Certification - each trainee is given a trade/competence test according to the established training programme and is conducted by an independent national board approved by the Minister of Education.

¤ Counselling - this is continuous and all training given is monitored by ETC-appointed experts. Where literacy and numeracy skills are needed, the ETC ensures this is incorporated in the training.

Mr Bezzina said that IT is the area that has been most successful and popular so far, with over 100 participating in the scheme so far. Clients have been trained to advanced diploma level.

Other areas of training have been as room attendants, fibreglass operators, aluminium workers and gardeners.

"Women's participation in the labour market is still very low when compared to other EU member states and acceding countries," Mr Bezzina said.

"Traineeships in childcare is one area in response to the need of women returnees to find places to leave their children while they are at work. The employers' response for these type of traineeship scheme has, however, been low."

Speaking in general, he urged employers to come forward to show they believe in the benefits of training. "Employers have the mentality that training will benefit the employee," Mr Bezzina said. "The problem is not that the worker leaves but that the employer will not find a replacement."

On its part, the ETC is committed to constant updating to the most modern techniques and knowhow. "Within this context, we are committed to work with whoever believes in investment through training," he said.

Employers who want further information about the ETC Traineeship Scheme may contact ETC senior executive Joe Bezzina (joeb@etc.org.mt) at the Valletta Training Centre on either 2124-5778/9 or 2123-9001.