JAA fights for jewellery industry reform

Jewellery body the JAA is to launch a campaign for greater industry professionalism and reforms to “flawed” training practices at this year’s Small Business Forum.

JAA CEO Ian Hadassin will push for government support for sweeping changes to the jewellery industry, and strongly believes the trade needs an accreditation process for jewellers.

Hadassin said the campaign was about assuring the industry’s future.

“If we want to survive we need to lift the standard enormously: the technical, educational and ethical standards.

“Even florists have to sit an exam, but at the moment anyone can call themselves a jeweller,” he said.

Hadassin highlighted Australia’s apprenticeship training as a key issue that needed review. “The apprenticeship scheme is flawed,” he said. “There is no monitoring of the training apprentices are receiving, so some employers are using them as cheap labour and teaching them very little.”

Hadassin blamed a lack of government support for some of the problems facing the jewellery industry.

“The government gives our industry no help whatsoever,” he said.

According to Hadassin. more funding – along with stronger government guidelines – would help improve the jewellery trade’s reputation.

“The public need to have the confidence that they’re dealing with someone who is competent,” he said. “Because our industry is so technical, industry participants should prove they have the product knowledge if they want to be a jeweller.”

Hadassin intends to raise these issues on July 9 when he meets with the Federal Minister for Small Business at the Small Business Forum, to be held in Brisbane.

Representatives from a range of industries will attend the forum, hosted by Dr Craig Emerson, Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy.

“The forum will be the start of an effort to get the government to understand the issues particular to the jewellery industry, and to achieve government backing for a number of our objectives,” said Hadassin.

The Small Business Forum is designed as a means for organisations and operators in the small business sectors to air their industry’s issues with the government.

Posted July 01, 2010

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