A National Skills Passport - Australian Council of Trade Unions response to the Skills Passport Discussion Paper.

As custodians of the skills and training system and the representatives of the workers who undertake the qualifications it offers, unions are keenly interested in the Government’s considerations with regard to the development of a national skills passport. [...] 1 Union views on a Skills Passport Potential benefits of a passport The implementation of a skills passport has the potential to deliver on a number of tangible benefits to workers. [...] Design features of a skills passport It is our view that the above benefits can be achieved through the provision of a skills passport with particular design features. [...] Potential issues with a skills passport While a properly designed skills passport may offer a number of benefits to workers, a poorly designed passport may represent a threat to the accredited training system or entirely undermine the value of the passport itself. [...] The inclusion of work experience or ‘skills’ in the passport risk morphing the project into a government-backed quasi-resume – with all the issues raised with these documents given a veneer of legitimacy by association with the Government.