PLANS to introduce an additional 0.5 per cent tax on business from next May are "bad news" the economy minister has said.
Simon Hamilton said the apprentice levy was a "concern for many employers".
The new levy will be placed on firms which have an overall pay bill of more than £3 million.
It is a reserved matter for the Westminster government but doubt remains over the benefit - if any - for Northern Ireland.
Mr Hamilton said it was "bad news particularly given that the Levy contributions will have no net benefit to the Northern Ireland block grant".
He has launched a public consultation into the proposals.
“A skilled workforce is essential to rebuilding and maintaining a modern, knowledge intensive, export-driven economy. I am committed to working with our employers to ensure that our apprenticeships and skills programmes can continue to grow their skills base and competitiveness," he said.
“We have a distinct approach to training and apprenticeship provision which promotes closer engagement with industry. Indeed, we already spend in the region of £80 million on work related training for businesses here.
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ann McGregor said many of its members were unsure on what the levy was about.
“The system in England is well developed, but the practicalities of the levy from a devolved perspective are unclear," she said.
"How will businesses access the fund? How will it work for businesses that are multinational and train centrally or businesses that have staff working outside NI? Will the funds received from the levy in Northern Ireland be ring-fenced for apprenticeship/skills funding only?"
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium director Aodhán Connolly said there was a "real chance these employers will pay a contribution to the levy, but receive no benefit".
"That’s clearly unfair, and we hope government will work with us to ensure a reasonable solution is found.
“What Northern Ireland businesses want is a fair system that provides support for their training needs. That should involve some direct funding and reimbursement for NI levy payers. But there is also an opportunity to look at allowing levy-payers to provide support to their Northern Ireland supply chains.
"For example, grocery retailers could benefit from training investment in the food and drink sector, where more productive, efficient and capable suppliers will provide better products, which of course benefits both retailers and customers."
