This regulation sets forth policies and procedures to promote equality of opportunity in State approved and registered apprentice training programs and to assure coordination with other state and federal equal opportunity statutes, including those enforced by the Connecticut commission on human rights and opportunities. These policies and procedures contained herein apply to the recruitment, selection, employment and training of apprentices. The procedures established provide for processing of complaints and for the deregistration of apprenticeship programs found to be operating in a discriminatory manner. This regulation promotes equal opportunity to encourage affirmative expansion of apprentice training opportunities for a larger number of labor force participants from those segments of the labor force where the need for upgrading levels of skill is greatest. Equality of opportunity in apprenticeship will be promoted by prohibiting discrimination based upon race, color, religious creed, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, mental retardation or physical disability, including but not limited to, blindness unless such disability prevents performance of the work involved in apprenticeship programs, and by requiring affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in such apprenticeship programs. Voluntary affirmative action in apprenticeship programs has also been approved and endorsed by the United States Supreme Court. The Connecticut labor department, and the Connecticut commission on human rights and opportunities all encourage the inclusion of persons of all ages.
Conn. Agencies Regs. § 46a-68-1