An apparently contradictory aspect of this relationship lies in the fact that although the workplace has been the primary site of vocational education, nevertheless skills acquired through it have been widely recognised in the labour market. Thus apprenticeship training produces 'transferable skills' in the sense that the fact of having served an apprenticeship and being union members guarantees workers' employability in an occupational labour market. This is despitethe fact that formal instruction has never been a requirement for recognition as a skilled worker. On-the-job training and 'sitting next to Nellie' have been the norm. There are formal qualifications, but it has been the completion of a period of time as an apprentice ('timeserving') which has traditionally been the criterion for recognition of skilled status. © 1997 AnnetteJoberr, Catherine Marry, Lucie Tanguy and Helen Rainbird selection and editorial matter; individual chapters, the contributors. All rights reserved.
Author Keywords
Index Keywords
