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Student wages that increase through the program, collective agreement and skilled worker conditions.
One of the good things about vocational education is that you earn money while you learn. As a chimney sweep apprentice, you get paid during the practical training in the main course — not student grants. Here we go through the principles behind apprentice wages and the conditions that come with it.
§Student wages that increase through the program.
The apprentice wages are typically set as a percentage of a trained chimney sweep's wages (journeyman wages) and that percentage increases as you move forward in the main course. The idea is simple: the further you get the more you can contribute with — and the higher your share of the journeyman wages. That way your growing ability is rewarded along the way.
§The agreement in the area
The chimney sweep profession is covered by a collective agreement concluded between the organizations of employees and employers in the field. On the employee side, chimney sweeps are organized by the Sheet Metal and Plumbing Workers Union, and on the employer side stands the Chimney Sweepers Guild. It is this collective agreement that sets wages, working hours, pensions and a number of other conditions — also for apprentices.
- 01You get paid during practical training in the main course — not state educational grants.
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- 03The agreement regulates wages, working hours, pensions and other terms.
- 04As an apprentice you are covered by the same basic rights as others in the workplace.
- 05Pension and other benefits may also apply to apprentices — see the current collective agreement.
§When you are trained – skilled terms.
After the journeyman exam you move from apprentice pay to skilled pay. As a trained chimney sweep you are a sought-after skilled worker with terms that follow the collective agreement: a fixed salary, pension, vacation, and other matters that apply on the job market. Many chimney sweeps are employed by a chimney sweep master, and some build over time toward becoming a master themselves and running their own business.
§Economy during education
Because you receive pay during the main course, an apprenticeship can be an economically sensible path compared to educations where you live on state educational grant or loans. You avoid incurring student debt, and you have an income while building a professional profile that is in demand. This makes the chimney sweep education attractive for someone who wants to earn and learn at the same time.