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19/04/2003 - New Pay Rates for Dental Technicians
01/04/2003 - NJC for the Craft of Dental Technicians Recommended Wage Increase
05/03/2003 - DTA Council Elections
05/03/2003 - DTA Recieve New Presidents Chain of Office from BDTA
18/02/2003 - GDC Dental Education - Accreditation and Convergence in Europe
19/04/2003 - Pay Scales 2003
The increase being recommended for dental technicians is 3.9% on the 2002 base figure. In addition the qualification allowances will also be increased by 3.9%.
Proposed new rates from 1 April 2003, which are the industry minimum and should be used for guidance only:
Dental technician
| Old rate | New rate | |
| Dental technician (minimum per year) | £14,291.49 | £14,848.86 |
| BTEC National Diploma/SCOTVEC HNC allowance (per year | £ 971.57 | £ 1,009.46 |
| BTEC Higher National/SCOTVEC HND allowance (per year) | £ 1,268.44 | £ 1,317.91 |
Student dental technician
| 1st year at college on part-time basis per year | £6,681.99 |
| 2nd year at college on part-time basis | £8,166.87 |
| 3rd year at college on part-time basis | £8,909.32 |
| 4th year at college on part-time basis (or qualified full-time and 1st year in lab) |
£9,651.76 |
| 5th year assimilation in laboratory (or qualified full-time and 2nd year in lab) |
£11,136.65 |
These rates can also be used as guidance for the employment of students on work experience placement.
Employers are advised to ensure that where the qualification allowance is paid it is itemised separately on the salary slip.
Please be aware of the National Minimum Wage Regulations detailed below for apprentices.
The National Minimum Wage (NMW)
The national minimum wage does not need to be paid to apprentices who are under the age of 19. So those who start an apprenticeship at the age of 16-17 and continue at age 18 will not need to be paid the NMW until their 19th birthday. If their apprenticeship ends before the 19th birthday the NMW needs to be paid.
Apprentices aged under 26 who are in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship do not need to be paid the NMW. For example someone starting an apprenticeship just before his 19th birthday would not need to be paid the NMW until just before his 20th birthday. If an apprentice becomes 26 during his first year of apprenticeship then he becomes entitled to the NMW.
Employers need to ensure that if they intend to pay apprentices below the NMW they have a written 'contract of apprenticeship' with the employee (See Below).
Contracts of Apprenticeships:
A contract of apprenticeship was recently defined by the Court of Appeal as 'A contract in which a master undertakes to educate and train the apprentice in practical and other skills needed to practice a skilled trade (or profession) and the apprentice binds himself to serve and work for the master and comply with all reasonable directions.
Generally speaking, it will be a written contact which should specify the rights and obligations of both the employer and apprentice; what training is to be provided and to what level; the length of the apprenticeship and the rates of pay.
National minimum wage
Main (adult) rate for workers aged 22 and over
£4.20 per hour (from 1 October 2002)
Development rate for workers aged 18-21 inclusive
£3.60 per hour (from 1 October 2002)
11/04/2003 - GDC's election of it's new President
Hew Mathewson has been elected as President of the new smaller, 29 member GDC.The election took place at the first formal meeting of the newly constituted Council on Thursday 10 April 2003.
You will see notices in the March issues of Dental Technician and Dental Laboratory about the 2003 elections to the Council of the DTA. There are two vacancies.
There are 7 elected members on the Council and each has a role to play in the effective management of the Dental Technicians Association. This is an exciting time for the Association and all elected members will have a unique opportunity to shape the future for dental technicians.
Elected members are expected to attend two meetings of the Council each year, these are usually held in London. In addition, there is an element of sub-committee work that uses the talents of all Council members.
If you would like a nomination form please contact the DTA office on 01280 702600 to request a form and full details. Please note that the closing date for nominations is 11 April 2003.
Sue Adams
Registrar/Company Secretary March 2003
05/03/2003: DTA Recieve New Presidents Chain of Office from BDTA
The Dental Technicians Association (DTA) are delighted to be the recipients of a new chain of office, very kindly donated by the British Dental Trade Association (BDTA).
18/02/2003: GDC Dental Education - Accreditation and Convergence in Europe.
