Labour Ministry seeks comments on draft Apprentices rules

Says these amendments have been made with the objective of expanding the apprenticeship opportunities for youth

Labour Ministry has sought public comments on draft rules required to implement the recently amended Apprentices Act, 1961, that allows employers to fix the hours of work and leave as per their discretion or policy, Parliament has passed the Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

"Labour Ministry has taken quick steps to implement the amended Apprentices Act. Draft recommendations for Rules under the Act have been placed on website for public comments. Comments can be sent by March 2, 2015," a Labour Ministry statement said here.

It said the Apprentices Act, 1961 has been amended and brought into effect from December 22, 2014.

These amendments have been made with the objective of expanding the apprenticeship opportunities for youth, it said.

While, non-engineering graduates and diploma holders have been made eligible for apprenticeship, a portal is being set up to make all approvals transparent and time bound.

Apprenticeship can be taken up in new occupations also, the statement said.

In light of the new amendments, the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 are required to be framed/amended in consultation with the Central Apprenticeship Council-a statutory body under the Act.

A Working Group constituted by Labour Ministry for framing draft apprenticeship rules, in its meeting held on January 12, has prepared draft recommendations on the proposed amendments in Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 and guidelines of Third Party Agencies (TPA).

Proposed amendments and Guidelines for TPA are uploaded at ministry's websites--http://www.Labour.Gov.In/content and http://www.Dget.Gov.In/content.

These comments/suggestions shall be considered by the Working Group before finalising its recommendations and thereafter Apprenticeship Rules will be framed in consultation with Central Apprenticeship Council.