Present & Future Problems not addressed
by the National Training Act

1. Training Allowances
   
   Women have been forced to rely increasingly on unemployment insurance benefits as their sole source of income while on training. Because women's salaries are lower, their average unemployment benefits are lower than men's -- they must do with less while being trained, than their male classmates. Married women who may not have access to the family income must rely on a disgraceful $10 a week while on training. Part-time workers, of whom the majority (73%) are women, are especially disadvantaged by ultra low unemployment benefits. For example, women who came out of the INTO program often take part-time jobs while they are waiting for a diminishing supply of upgrading seats. When the upgrading seats become available the women give up their jobs to take the training but find that they are unable to live on the unemployment benefits.
   
   
2. Technological Change
   
   There is no provision for extracting employment commitments from employers receiving government aid during a period of conversion to new technology. Word processors for example are necessary to an industry or business during the transition period of technological conversion. But once conversion is completed word processors (with 75% of salary and 100% of training costs paid by the new Act) will become redundant.
   
   
3. Basic Education
   
   No government jurisdiction presently accepts responsibility for Adult Education. Fully 25% of the Canadian adult population falls into the "functionally illiterate" definition of having acquired less than 8 years of schooling. The majority of these individuals are women. Many are immigrants who require ESL training before being able to pursue basic education. The problems presently faced by these people in the employment market will be compounded by technological change.
   
   The National Training Act and Program accepts no responsibility for assisting illiterate adults acquire the skills they need. In fact, CEIC purchased seats in basic education have been steadily decreasing. The new act offers no hope or incentive for A.B.E.
   
   One of the stated intentions of the National Training Program is to emphasize "equal opportunities for women and other clients with special needs". However, the apparent emphasis of this training program is on those areas of employment where women have traditionally had the least access -- industrial trades and science/engineering based technologies. This emphasis, combined with attitude barriers to women's participation in male-dominated occupations, increasing during periods of high employment, suggests that simple statements supporting the principles of equal opportunities are adequate. Negotiated affirmative action programs should be an automatic component of every training program financed through the new Act. An affirmative action program should include specific provisions for active recruitment of women and support services for women trainees, including educational upgrading, and child care.

1. Mandatory Affirmative Action accompanied by contract compliance must be integrated into this act to ensure that it has a positive impact on women.
   
   
2. Change the structure and administration of Training Allowances and increase them to live able levels (not tied to U.I.) in order to provide increased access for women to training programs.
   
   
3. Include provisions in the Act or the Program for Adult Basic Education for functionally illiterate adults and for women to upgrade math skills to be able to participate in new jobs offered by micro- technology.
   
   
4. In the event an Institute is established to provide consultation to determine national occupations, that the voluntary sector concerned with adult education be included in such an institute.