On June 25, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that, if finalized, would allow for the creation of Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). IRAPs are a proposed training model structured to operate outside of the traditional registered apprenticeship program. They would be accredited by DOL to act as third-party certifiers of newly created apprenticeship programs.
NECA is concerned that the proposed rule establishing IRAPs could create an environment that would de-emphasize safety, wage standards, and would be riddled with conflicts of interest. While the proposed rule currently includes a provision exempting the construction industry from creating IRAPs, NECA is gravely concerned opponents of this exemption are working to remove, weaken, or limit the exemption when the rule is finalized in the coming months.
It is imperative that all NECA contractors, their employees, NECA chapters, and NECA employees make their voices heard on or before August 26, 2019, to ensure this tentative exclusion does not fall through.
To submit a comment, take the following steps:
- Visit www.protectconstructiontraining.org
- Enter in your personal information (name, company, etc.)
- Select one topic from the list of five to diversify each message (the website will then populate a pre-written paragraph)
- Click send
