MINISTERS were urged to do more to prevent apprentices being used as a source of cheap labour as Unite launched its apprenticeship charter today. 

The union marked Apprenticeship Week by setting out the minimum standards employers should abide by.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Apprenticeships should be a career pathway to skilled and secure work.

“While many employers offer this, the government needs to do more to stop bad bosses using apprenticeships as a source of cheap labour with training and contracts that go nowhere.”

She added the union “is totally focused on defending and improving their jobs, pay and conditions” and “is lobbying employers up and down the county to sign up to our charter to ensure fair wages and treatment are baked into their apprenticeships.”

Unite national young members co-ordinator Frazer Lake said: “Unite supports apprentices in defending their rights, improving standards, and building strong futures across all industries.”