CMNT_TITLE

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Australia (RATIFICATION: 1932)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Australia (RATIFICATION: 2022)

With reference to its previous comments concerning discharge of army, navy and air force personnel, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report.

1. Army. The Committee has noted the texts governing the return of service condition (Manual of Personnel Administration (MPA) Volume 1, Chapter 15).

2. Navy. The Committee notes the Government's information that in November 1993 the RAN apprenticeship scheme ceased to exist. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the current texts governing enlistment, training and discharge at own request of apprentices.

3. Air force. In its previous comments the Committee referred to the enlistment, training and discharge at own request of apprentices. The Committee observed in particular that, according to the army Regulations, the initial engagement period of an apprentice (who could engage at the age of 15 with the consent of his parents), could be 9 or 15 years, whereas the period of training received by an apprentice amounted to four years (Instruction DI (AF) PERS 6-1). The Committee had noted the Government's indication that a replacement scheme was being determined by the air force and it expressed the hope that the Government would indicate measures adopted or envisaged to preserve the right of apprentices to leave the service after a certain time, in a reasonable proportion with the length of training received.

The Committee notes the Government's indication in its latest report that the RAAF Trade Apprentice Scheme was discontinued in 1992, that RAAF entrants must be between the ages of 17 and 42 years, that persons under 18 years may enlist with their parent's/guardian's written consent as well as leave the service within 90 days with their consent.

The Committee would request the Government to provide a copy of the current texts governing enlistment, training and discharge at own request of apprentices.