Abhijeet Anand
Agencies to help graduates and undergraduates get traineeships in the industrial sector
Amendment proposed in the Apprenticeship Act by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
The government may soon empanel agencies which will be responsible for getting undergraduates and graduates of technical courses enrolled in the traineeship programmes in the various sectors where there is any scope for employment.
For this, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) wants an amendment in the Apprenticeship Act. The proposed amendment in the Act has provision for third party aggregators which will aid students in getting traineeships. “All the paperwork needed will be done by the third-party aggregators. It will make a lot more easier for the apprentices also,” said Secretary of MSDE Kumar.
The proposed amendment is also aimed at making it easier for the employer to get trainees. The number of apprentices at present is around 2.6 lakh which the Ministry expects to increase two to three times after the Act gets amended.
According to officials, the companies are reluctant to hire apprentices as the students are under the impression that they will be provided jobs after completing their apprenticeship. With third party aggregators preparing the contractual agreements for the apprentices, the companies will not bear any liability. “It is practically not possible to give jobs to every apprentice,” said Kumar.
A consultation will be done with the stakeholders for drafting the final Bill. The Bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament in June or July in Monsoon Session.
The amendment in the Apprenticeship Act, which is proposed, is also supposed to allow students who are enrolled in courses in various universities to take part time training in companies. Students undergoing the apprenticeship will also be entitled to stipends which is half the salary any normal employee gets.
Choice Based Credit System or CBCS will allow students to get credits for the training they undergo in their part-time. “Choice Based Credit System will allow students pursuing technical courses to earn credits for the training while they are pursuing their courses which will show in the degrees and diplomas also,” said secretary, MSDE, Praveen Kumar. As per the directions of UGC, most of the universities and colleges have introduced the Choice Based Credit System.
Private firms are by law bound to provide apprenticeships to those having diplomas and degrees in technical subjects. The Apprenticeship Act provides that they will have to take at least 2.5 percent of their total personnel as apprenticeship. They can increase the intake of apprentice to 10 to 15 percent of the total strength. However, they are not bound to provide employment to these apprentices.
The Ministry of Skill Development hopes that the number of apprentices hired by companies will grow to up to 10 percent of the employee strength. “Apprenticeship is supposed to be mutually beneficial for both the industry and the students. While the industry gets trainees at stipends, the students get hands-on training,” said Kumar.
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