The Department of Labor (DOL), with the blessing of organized labor, has officially proposed killing one of the Trump-era DOL’s signature accomplishments, industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs).
IRAPs were created as a new way to recognize apprenticeship programs that could be more responsive to local market forces and to operate with less bureaucracy. Even though IRAPs were created as an alternative to rather than as a replacement of the existing “registered apprenticeship programs” system, they were strongly opposed by labor unions as a threat given labor’s heavy investment in and influence over the entrenched registered apprenticeship model.
Although DOL is accepting public comments on its proposal until January 14, 2022, there is no doubt what the outcome will be: the IRAP program will end sometime next year. The only real question remaining is a practical one, what will happen to the apprentices currently working under IRAP-authorized programs?
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.