The Federal Government needs to do more than throw less than $15 per person at training initiatives, if it is serious about increasing workforce participation among mature age Australians, construction workers say.

The CFMEU Construction and General Division, which represents tens of thousands of workers employed in the construction industry, says the $43 million retraining package unveiled by the Government yesterday would to little to improve the plight of mature age construction workers.

CFMEU Construction and General division National Secretary Dave Noonan said the funds would not spread very far across more than 2.8 million people estimated to be over the age of 55.  

Mr Noonan said if the Federal Government wanted to make a real difference, it would enforce quotas of mature age workers on government building projects.

“Older Australians employed in construction have no limits on their capacity to build excellence through sharing their knowledge and skills; but too often employers cannot see past their prejudice against mature age workers,” Mr Noonan said. 

“Too often mature age workers are passed over for younger workers even in jobs that were once reserved for mature age workers.

“If the Federal Government is serious about increasing workforce participation among mature age workers it will introduce quotas on all government building projects and guarantee mature age workers the opportunity to work longer.

“The Federal Government, through its purchasing policies, must ensure better treatment of workers who have committed decades to the industry.

“What we need is to ensure that a job in construction is a career for life and not one that is terminated as soon as a worker turns 50.”

The CFMEU has said it plans to make the plight of mature age workers an industrial issue.