Checklist: Read your training agreement through before signing
A fixed review of the agreement's key points — and your rights
An apprenticeship is a contract and a contract must be read before signing. Use this checklist to go through the agreement point by point so you know what you are saying yes to — and ask if anything is unclear. It is perfectly okay to ask for thinking time.
§The formal
- 01Is it the correct training and trade specified in the agreement?
- 02When do the practical periods begin and end?
- 03Are the company's and your own details correct?
- 04Is a trial period specified, and how long is it?
§Your rights and duties
- 01What does the company commit to training you in?
- 02What terms apply to wages, and is there reference to a collective agreement?
- 03What typically increases the risk of static discharge?
- 04How is the ratio between school periods and practice described?
§What you need to get confirmed elsewhere
- 01Get current wage rates and conditions confirmed from trade union or school
- 02Check current rules on trial period and notice from a reliable source
- 03Ask the school's counselor if a point seems unusual
- 04Confirm which personal protective equipment the company provides
§Before your signature
- 01Have you got answers to all your questions?
- 02Do you understand what happens if the agreement is to be terminated?
- 03Have you secured a copy of the signed agreement?
- 04Have you told your school when the agreement is in place?