Should the government legislate to force employers to pay apprentices the minimum wage?

Question

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/aug/07/1419education.furthereducation

One of our friends has a son who is working as an apprentice. He has seen people only hired as apprentices for cheap labour and get fired once they complete the apprentice period. Should they be protected?

Answer 1

I agree...companies do that a lot, and yes they should get the minimum wage. I would also like to see more companies have clear pay structures. The British Army has a clear pay structure according to your rank and level of skills. It helps people picture their future with clear goals and rewards on attaining those goals.  

Answer 2

That is not the point of an apprenticeship, an apprenticeship is a journey in the middle ages a lad was put to a craft in one of the guilds, that la d served his time, and only when that tradesman said he was fit to move on he was then called a journeyman, only after about 10 years of journeying bid that man then become a craftsman, it is a modern idiom that apprentices stay as craftsmen in the same company and even to day usually only the best are invited to stay and become skilled employees, it may well be that this employer is a bad one but the good thing is that this lad has learnt a skill that will earn him a living for the rest of his life, and now he can go and find a good employer.  

Answer 3

Yes!

Answer 4

Not only protected but encouraged by a state bonus as they reach each standard, they are the future, treat them well if they work for it.

Answer 5

My old company used to sack an apprentice the day he completed his apprenticeship telling them to get some experience. It was not unusual for one or two of them to come back five years later in a junior management position often rising to a high level. For once I don't want to tread on anybodies toes here  but the completions of an apprenticeship is the start of a learning process not the completion. it is possible for People to be protected out of fulfilling their trade. The protection should be by way of a contract between an employer and the young trainee making clear their mutual obligations and expectations. I understand that this is not done these days  

Answer 6

Its a toughy because alot of the time they're in education/college, they do need better protection though  

Answer 7

Everyone should make at least minimum wage. The whole pupose of it is to protect the poor from being exploited as cheap labor.