Ministry of Labour signs MoUs with CII members for demand responsive vocational training

CII in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment has facilitated the signing of four flexi-MoUs with Tata Sons, Flipkart, Raymonds and the Gujarat Industrial Power Company Ltd (GIPCL) at a National Consultation, 'Demand-Responsive Vocational Training', organised in New Delhi today.

The flexi-MoUs, which are a first of its kind and unique, will give companies the flexibility to design training programmes at ITIs in a manner that the youth are skilled according to the specific needs of the industry.

The MoU with Tata Sons was signed between the Director General, Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Shri Alok Kumar with Shri N.S.Rajan, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, Tata Sons. The company has been chosen as a knowledge partner by the Ministry.

The MoU with Flipkart was signed between Shri RL Singh, DDG (Training), DGE and T and Shri Joy Bandekar, President, Flipkart. As part of the MoU, the company, which is working on a mission 'Flipkart Karigaar Ke Dwaar', will benefit MSMEs and artisans in building their capabilities and improving their competitiveness.

The MoU with Raymond was signed between Shri Singh and Shri Krish Dutta, General Manager, Raymond Ltd. Under the MoU, the company will conduct training programmes on customized garment manufacturing in formal men's wear like shirt-making, trouser-making and jacket-making etc.

The MoU with Gujarat Industrial Power Company Ltd was signed between Shri Singh and Shri DK Roy, General Manager, Surat Lignite Power Plant Ltd. GIPCL has adopted two ITIs in tribal-dominated areas of Gujarat where it will provide two courses-Instrument Mechanic (Power Plant) and Electrician (Power Plant) to the students.

The four MoUs were facilitated by CII as part of its collaboration with the government to ensure that India contributes in a meaningful way to the global workforce by providing its young job-seeking population with relevant and industry-specific skills.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Gauri Kumar, Secretary (L and E), Government of India, said that the country has busted a number of paradigms. "The challenge before India is how to forge a winning partnership. How do we come together for mutual benefits?" She added that the country has limited infrastructure therefore the government is looking at partnerships wherein companies can volunteer to help develop a last-mile employability module. She stressed on the need for a collaboration between industry clusters, the ITIs , state governments and career centres to provide training to youth that is in line with industry needs. Ms Kumar also urged the industry to improve its productivity as that would lead to better wages as well.

DGET, Shri Kumar said that the government is undertaking a massive effort along with the industry to re-establish the brand equity of ITIs. He added that the government has also decided to transform employment exchanges into career centres. Kumar said that the entire revamped system will be put on the National Knowledge Network.

Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, highlighting the partnership with the government as exemplary, said the MoUs will pave a new way of thinking. He added that CII understands that human capital is the force behind economic growth and will play an important role in the growth prospects of India. "We will make India the talent capital of the world," Banerjee said.

Banerjee added that working with the government under a PPP mode, CII members have adopted 398 ITIs across the country to make them industry-friendly. "We have held state-level and regional workshops for ITIs and their principals. But the states too will have to play a leadership role in this."

CII has committed to working with the government in fulfilling the last-mile employability, sectoral gap training and identifying champions from the industry who can help build modern-day human capital.

Ajay Shankar, Member Secretary, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council emphasised on the need for skilled people in the manufacturing sector. He said that MSMEs want skilled employees and such initiatives will go a long way in creating an ecosystem that will foster job creation hence attracting investment.