OVERVIEW

     BACKGROUND

• Development of human resource is crucial for the industrial development   of any nation.  Upgradation  of skills is an important component of HRD. Training imparted in Institutions alone is not sufficient for acquisition of skills and needs to be supplemented by training in the actual work place.

     OBJECTIVES

     Apprentices Act, 1961 was enacted with the following objectives :-

• To regulate the programme of training of apprentices in the industry so as  to conform to the syllabi, period of training etc. as laid down by  the  Central   Apprenticeship Council; and

• To utilise fully  the  facilities available in industry for imparting practical training with a view to  meeting the  requirements  of skilled manpower    for industry.

    

EVOLUTION OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING SCHEME

•  National Apprenticeship Scheme started in 1959 on Voluntary Basis.

• Apprentices Act enacted in 1961  and  implemented w.e.f. 1.3.1962 

• Initially  the Act  envisaged  training of Trade Apprentices.

• The Act was amended in 1973 to include training of Graduate and Diploma Engineers as "Graduate" & "Technician" Apprentices.

• The Act was further amended in 1986 to bring within its purview the training of   the 10+2 vocational stream as "Technician (Vocational)" Apprentices.

      MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT

• Overall  responsibility is with   the   Directorate General of  Employment     & Training (DGE&T) in the Union Ministry of Labour

• DGE&T is also responsible for implementation of the Act in respect  of  Trade Apprentices in the Central Govt.  Undertakings & Departments.      This is done through  six  Regional  Directorates  of Apprenticeship  Training  located at  Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur & Faridabad.

• State Apprenticeship  Advisers are responsible  for implementation of       the Act  in  respect of  Trade Apprentices    in   State   Government   Undertakings/ Departments and Private Establishments.

• Department of Education in the  Ministry of  HRD is responsible for  implementation of  the  Act in respect  of  Graduate, Technician  &  Technician (Vocational) Apprentices.  This is done  through four  Boards     of Apprenticeship Training located at Kanpur, Kolkata , Mumbai & Chennai.  

     CENTRAL APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL

• It is an apex statutory body. It advises the Government  on laying down policies and prescribing norms & standards in respect of Apprenticeship Training Scheme(ATS).

• It is tripartite  by constitution  with  members from Govt. both Central    and State/UTs, Employers & Trade Unions.

• Union  Labour Minister  is  the   Chairman   and Minister  of State  for  Education in the Union Ministry of HRD is the Vice Chairman.

     COVERAGE 

• It is obligatory  on the  part of  employers  both in Public and  Private  Sector establishments   having requisites training infrastructure as  laid down in the Act,  to engage apprentices.

• 254 groups of industries covered under the Act.

• About 17,800 establishments engage apprentices.

      STIPEND

• Trade  apprentices are  paid  stipend at  following rates : Rs. 820 p.m for  1^st year, Rs. 940 for 2^nd year, Rs. 1090 for 3^rd  and   1230 p.m for 4^th year.

• The expenditure on stipend for trade apprentices is borne by the employers.

• The rates of  stipend for  Graduate,  Technician & Technician  (Vocational)  apprentices are Rs. 1970 p.m , Rs. 1400 p.m. and Rs. 1090 p.m. respectively.

• Expenditure on Stipend for the categories of Graduate, Technician & Technician (Vocational) apprentices is shared equally between the employer and the Central Government.

Rates of stipend  are revised  every  two years  based on Consumer Price Index

      Mines Vocational Training Centre Malanjkhand Copper Project 

 TRAINING OF TRADE APPRENTICES

• 140 trades in 31 trade groups have been designated.

• Qualifications  vary from  Class  VIII pass to XII class pass  (10+2) system.

• Minimum age is 14 years.

• Period of training varies  from  6 months  to 4  years.

• Apprenticeship Training is linked  with Craftsmen  Training  conducted     in  Industrial  Training Institutes  (ITIs) for  92 trades.   Rebate  in period  of   Apprenticeship Training   is allowed   to  pass-outs  from ITIs  in  relevant trades.

• Training  comprises Basic Training, Shop Floor Training  and   Related   Instructions   as   per prescribed syllabus for each trade.

• Basic  Training & Related Instructions are conducted in  Basic  Training Centres  (BTCs)  or Related  Instruction Centres (RICs)  set  up within the  establishments or in a BTC or RIC set up by  the Govt.

• Seats   for trade  apprentices  are located by  the Apprenticeship Adviser on the basis of prescribed ratio of Apprentices to Workers and availability of training facilities.

• Engagement of trade apprentices is done twice a year (Feb./March and August/ Sept.)

• Every apprentice and employer have to enter into a contract of apprenticeship training which is registered by the Apprenticeship Advisers.

• Employers and apprentices have to fulfil their obligations under the Act.

     TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF TRADE APPRENTICES

• All  India Trade  Test  (AITT) for  trade apprentices are conducted   by  National Council

       of  Vocational Training (NCVT) twice a year (  Oct./Nov. and April/May).

 

• National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) are awarded to those who pass the AITT.

• NAC  recognised for  employment under Govt./Semi-Govt.  departments/ organisations.

      SKILL COMPETITION OF TRADE APPRENTICES

• With  a view  to fostering  healthy competition among  apprentices  as well  as  establishments, skill  competition is organised at local, regional & All India levels.

• Skill competition is held for 11 trades namely  Fitter, Machinist,  Turner, Welder, Electrician, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Tool  &  Die Maker,  Instrument Mechanic,  Draughtsman  (Mechanical), Millwright Mechanic Maintenance and Electronics Mechanic.

TRAINING OF GRADUATE, TECHNICIAN AND TECHNICIAN (VOCATIONAL APPRENTICES)

• 101 subject fields have been designated for the category of Graduate & Technician apprentices.

• 94 subjects fields have been designated for the category of Technician (Vocational) apprentices.

• Period of post qualification training for these categories is one year.

• Seats  are located based  on  managerial/supervisory posts and training facilities.

• Training programme is prepared in joint consultation between Apprenticeship Adviser Establishment concerned.

• Certificates are awarded on completion of training by the Deptt. of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development.