Are apprentices workers, and what are their hours and leave?
- A person training in a designated trade is a trainee, not a worker, and other labour laws do not apply, except as the Act provides Apprentices Act s. 18.
- Hours are set by the employer, subject to any prescribed training duration s. 15(1). Overtime needs the Apprenticeship Adviser’s approval s. 15(2), and you get the leave and holidays observed in the establishment s. 15(3).
- Your employer is liable to pay compensation for an injury in the course of your training s. 16.
This comes from the Apprentices Act, 1961, as amended up to 2014, not the Labour Codes. Its rules, which set the stipend rates, are not in this library.
Last checked 1 Nov 2026 · written from the official text · not reviewed by a lawyer. This explains the law in general and does not decide your case.