(1) Subject to subsection (3) and sections 17 and 18, where an employee who has attained the age of 18 years undergoes a course of study or training authorised by the employer within the workplace or elsewhere during normal working hours, such courses or training to be prescribed in regulations made by the Minister, the employee shall be remunerated by his or her employer in respect of his or her working hours in any pay reference period at a rate of pay that on average is not less than the following percentages of the national minimum hourly rate of pay:
(a) in respect of the first one-third period (but not exceeding 12 months) of the total study or training period, 75 per cent;
(b) in respect of the second one-third period (but not exceeding 12 months) of the total study or training period, 80 per cent;
(c) in respect of the third one-third period (but not exceeding 12 months) of the total study or training period, 90 per cent.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), where a one-