From the very beginning, an apprentice has certain rights and responsibilities within the business he trains in. These are even put down by law: In the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz BBiG) or in the Youth Employment Protection Act (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz) as well as in individual vocational education and training ordinances.
The top priority in an apprenticeship is, of course, learning. "This means that the apprentice is required to strive to the best of his or her abilities towards learning the capabilities needed for his or her future occupation", says Christian Uhl, Team Coordinator Vocational Education and Training at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Heilbronn.
The apprentice is expected to fulfil the tasks he or she is assigned to within the enterprise with diligence. This includes also maintaining written evidence of formal qualifications. The apprentice is required to attend vocational training measures outside the company. This includes visiting the occupational school, for instance. Lessons take place parallel to working at the company. The certificate issued to the apprentice at school needs to be presented not only to his or her parents or guardians, but, in contrast to previous school times, also to his or her vocational training supervisor.
The expert points out that "the apprentice has to follow his or her supervisor's orders". Also, apprentices are required to observe the company rules. "Whether smoking is banned at the occupational training venue, protective clothing is mandatory or long hair is forbidden, the apprentice is obliged to behave accordingly", says Uhl.
The fact that tools, machines and other items of equipment are looked after and treated with care should go without saying. Whoever falls ill is obliged to immediately notify the company and to present a doctor's certificate, the so-called yellow slip of paper. "It is taboo to talk about company secrets", Uhl warns.
An apprenticeship can only begin, if the apprentice presents his or her future employer with a doctor's certificate of health, which must not be older than 14 months", says Uhl. Even before completion of the first year of apprenticeship, the young person's state of health and development is reassessed in a follow-up examination.
The list of an apprentice's rights is just as long as that of his or her responsibilities. It may be a popular saying that life is not easy at the bottom, but that does not mean apprentices have to put up with everything. Their first and foremost right is the right to appropriate remuneration. Likewise, the training resources for adequate training and practice need to be provided free of cost. "When apprentices take part in vocational training measures, they must be given time off for that purpose. Their wage is paid irrespective of this", Uhl explains.
Making coffee for the boss or sweeping the parking lot? "Apprentices are not required to take over tasks that are not related to their training", says Uhl. In the event of them being required to even completely replace a lacking hand, they are entitled to refuse. Moreover, an apprentice has a particularly short period of notice, in the event of him or her wishing to drop out of the apprenticeship. "This is possible within a period of four weeks."
It is possible to spend part of the apprenticeship abroad. This is not a statutory right. Yet even so, the apprentice ought to speak to his or her chief executive and make this part of his or her written contract. At the end of the apprenticeship, the apprentice is entitled to a certificate evaluating both his or her performance and behaviour.