The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking public comment on a proposal that would remove the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), which would allow the agency to gear its efforts toward creating more access to good-paying jobs through Registered Apprenticeships Program.
On Nov. 12, the department requested public comment through a notice of proposed rulemaking on a proposal to rescind Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program, according to a news release.
"The proposal is part of the Biden-Harris administration's larger apprenticeship effort, including expanding and strengthening the proven Registered Apprenticeship model, investing in pipelines to these programs, and improving the quality of apprentice programs," the release stated.
The proposed change is the most recent action taken by the Department of Labor after President Joe Biden's Executive Order 14016, which also included suspended application reviews for the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program's Standard Recognition Entities (SRE).
Eliminating the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program would erase the "regulatory framework" that is used to govern IRAPs. The department has said it would work with both IRAs and SREs to help them make the transition into becoming program sponsors or intermediaries under the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
The department stated the change will benefit those seeking earn-as-you-learn opportunities because registered apprenticeships are required to provide apprentices with increasing wages, an incentive in and of itself, plus create a pool of well-trained employees. If approved the department said the change would mean a more focused effort on expanding access to good-paying jobs through registered apprenticeships while creating a reliable path for job growth and opportunities for the middle class, according to the release.
The department is accepting comments from the public on the change through Jan. 14, 2022. Comments can be submitted online through the federal eRulemaking portal found on Regulations.gov.
