Apprentices

(a) For the purpose of this regulation, an "apprentice" means a person at least sixteen years of age who is employed to learn a skilled trade in a bona fide apprentice program under an indenture of apprenticeship approved by the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council of the labor department. "Apprentice program" means an established program for training skilled workers which shall provide (1) training in a skilled trade, ordinarily recognized as apprenticeable for not less than four thousand hours; (2) on the job training according to an established schedule of work processes; (3) related technical training according to requirements for the particular trade; (4) a wage schedule progressing periodically as training advances. "Indenture" means a written agreement entered into by employer and employee by which each is to abide by the terms of the apprenticeship program during the period of apprenticeship. (b) An apprentice may not be employed at a beginning rate less than the minimum fair wage rate unless permission in each case has been received from the labor commissioner. To obtain such permission the employer shall file an application with the labor department and such application shall include a copy of the standards of the proposed apprentice program as herein defined and a copy of the apprentice indenture. A certification of approval may be issued authorizing the employment of a named apprentice at a modification of the minimum fair wage as defined in section 31-58 of the general statutes for the length of time specified in the apprenticeship agreement when an examination of the program and agreement and an investigation of the training facilities reveals that such program and apprenticeship agreement meets all requirements as set by the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council of the labor department. One copy of this certification shall be retained by the employer, one copy shall be retained by the labor department and one copy shall be provided to the apprentice. Such certification may be cancelled by the labor commissioner for violation of any of the terms of the certification, but, before any certification is cancelled, both the employer and the apprentice shall be notified in writing of the facts warranting such cancellation and afforded an opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance. (c) In addition to the records required by section 31-66 of the general statutes and section 31-60-13, the employer shall maintain and retain for the period of apprenticeship the following records: (1) Each worker employed as an apprentice shall be designated as such on the payroll records or personnel records maintained by the employer and all apprentices shall be listed as a separate group on the payroll records or personnel records maintained by the employer. (2) The employer shall keep a cumulative record of the number of hours worked by each employee at an apprentice's rate and the total accumulation of such hours shall be carried forward and posted to the payroll record at the end of each pay period.