Don’t fall for apprentice job scam

If you – or anyone you know – is looking for an apprenticeship, beware a scam that's doing the rounds in which would-be apprentices are asked to pay money into an account upfront.

The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (merSETA) warned last week that unsuspecting youngsters looking for learnership opportunities are being asked to deposit money at a Shoprite or Spar supermarket as well as at a bank in order to access training. They've reported the matter to the police.

They point out that anyone accepted to do merSETA training, does not need to pay.
The way it works is that Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) fund training and, in return, the employer pays wages or an allowance to the trainee.

Here's how it works:
Training providers are accredited by and registered with the merSETA;
Learners apply to the registered training provider;
The learner is selected;
A tripartite learnership agreement is signed between the employer, merSETA and the learner if the learner is unemployed;
The learning programme and process is discussed and agreed to with the training provider;
The employer funds the learnership, which may be through grants obtained from the merSETA;
Upon successful completion of the learnership, a National Qualification is awarded to the learner;
The learner receives a statement of results for unit standards achieved if the learnership is not successfully completed; and
Once the learnership is completed, the employer can decide whether to sign the learner on for a new learnership, employ the learner or release the learner for future employment by another organisation if he/she was originally unemployed.

Learner allowance
The unemployed/pre-employed learner is paid an allowance. The minimum allowances for learners are regulated.

So, merSETA only pays for apprenticeships and learnerships with registered organisations and companies and NOT for internships outside the merSETA.
If you come across an application process that doesn't follow these rules, then it could be a scam. Get in touch with the merSETA to check things out before getting involved and definitely before paying over any money.

Here are the contact details: Pickering Park Office Suites, 14-20 Pickering Street, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth
Tel: 0861 637 734