NECA dual trades Skilling SA project COViD-19 and its impact on supply and workers

NECA DUAL TRADES SKILLING SA PROJECT

GOVErNMENT OF SOUTH AUSTrAliA FUNDS FrESH COHOrT OF DUAl TrADESpEOplE.

Sixteen South Australians are now being recruited to complete a dual Electrotechnology and Air-conditioning/ refrigeration apprenticeship, allowing participants to master both trades in just five years.

Minister for innovation and Skills, David pisoni, said the dual qualification was first established by the South Australian Government in late 2020, in partnership with NECA’s SA/NT branch. “The Electrical refrigeration and Air-conditioning Technician trade was established in direct response to industry feedback, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to evolving the state’s skills sector to keep pace with workforce demand,” Minister pisoni said.

“This $75,000 Skilling South Australia project will see NECA’s group training organisation, NECA Careers & Apprenticeships (NCA), employ 16 new apprentices, combining classroom learning with valuable on-the-job experience with direct supervision and mentorship through host employers. “Training will be provided by both pEEr and TAFE SA, who have each committed to offering the combined Certificate iii in Electrotechnology (Electrician) and Certificate iii in Air-conditioning /refrigeration apprenticeship. “This is a terrific opportunity for job seekers to gain a highly-tailored and in-demand skill set, from which to build a successful career.”

NECA SA/NT’s Executive Director, larry Moore, said participating apprentices will gain the knowledge and skills required to undertake all work associated with complex refrigeration/air-conditioning and electrical plant and equipment. “There is substantial anecdotal evidence to show that such technicians would be in high demand, which will ensure continuity of employment and higher salaries,” Mr Moore said. “Efficiencies gained by both employers and the new technicians will provide economic benefits to companies and clients, as well as reducing the time taken to undertake such work.”

The Dual Trade Apprenticeship project is the latest of 230 Skilling South Australia projects funded by the Government of South Australia.

Since the initiative began in 2018, over 52,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships have commenced in South Australia, and over 3,300 businesses have employed an apprentice for the first time.

Visit necaapprentices.com.au or call (08) 8272 0799 for further information about this great initiative.

COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON SUPPLY AND WORKERS

Price volatility

Most, if not all, electricians have been living with the nightmare of regular price increases for materials caused by the COViD-19 Building Boom. They seem to be coming up weekly. if you have a fixed price contract (whether it is with a builder or with a consumer) and you are hit by a price rise after the contract is signed, you will have little if any chance of recovering the increase in price from your customer. There are ways to soften the blow and we can prepare some clauses for your contracts that allow you to pass on a price increase. remember however that this can be a difficult thing to sell to your customer.

Staff impacts

There is another effect of COViD-19, which is now starting to emerge following the opening up of our borders. COViD-19 is hitting electricians and their staff. if you suddenly find yourself short staffed because you have a number of people down with COViD-19, you will need to tread carefully contractually. Fixed time contracts (where you have to finish your work by an agreed date) are not uncommon and many of those contracts will not allow you to have an extension of time if you have staff shortages. if you are in doubt about this, give us a call and we can work through your contract terms and see if there are options for you to obtain an extension of time.

if you don’t have a right to an extension for staff shortages in your current contracts, it is worth looking to introduce clauses that give you that right for future jobs. it may be too late for those contracts that are already underway, but for jobs where the contract has not been signed, get us drafting for you.

Contracts – get it in writing!

On the topic of written contracts, it is now more vital than ever that you have them. The days of a simple quote are gone. Written contracts provide certainty to both parties about things like: ½ price; ½ timing; ½ variations; and ½ defects. A written contract is like a road map. it is much easier to get to your destination – the end of the job – when you have one.

Having a contract of your own is a good investment. Equally, if you are given a contract to sign for a job, you should really get it checked. We can help you with both areas. We see too many cases where a client has signed a contract without really reading it and later they find that it is skewed against their interests.

A good contract should balance the interests of the parties and allocate risk appropriately.

Now, more than ever, written contract terms are vital to keeping your business safe.

if you need specific advice or assistance, members are encouraged to call NECA SA/NT on (08) 8272 2966. Furthermore, NECA SA/NT and rACCA SA members receive a free initial consultation from lynch Meyer lawyers on any new issue.

Michael Hutton

Partner, Lynch Meyer Lawyers mhutton@lynchmeyer.com.au Disclaimer: The advice in this article is of a general nature and should not be relied on.