Terming job creation as it "core priority", the government today said it was revamping its present ITI system and the proposed amendements to the Apprentices Act 1961 is aimed at bringing flexibility for boosting training and employment opportunities for youths.
Union Labour minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the government has decided to transform employment exchanges into career centres for connecting job-seekers, especially youth, with job opportunities across country with use of technology.
"Job creation is the "core priority" of his ministry and it is taking initiatives to promote an enabling business environment conducive to employment growth while safeguarding the welfare of the working class," he said.
"Proposed amendments to the Apprenticeship Act 1961 are aimed to bring in desired flexibility for boosting training and employment opportunities for youth," Tomar said.
The Union Cabinet had recently approved proposals to amend three labour laws including Apprentices Act 1961 to make them more compatible and beneficial for labourers.
Tomar had recently said the Cabinet has given its approval (for the amendments). The amendments would be beneficial for the labourers. We expect that it will be tabled in the present session of Parliament, he had said.
The other two Acts which were cleared by the Cabinet are Factories Act, 1948 and Labour Laws (exemption from furnishing returns and maintaining registers by certain establishments) Act, 1988.
"The present ITI system is also being revamped for meeting the needs of the industry including at local industry level, to support industrial growth, especially in manufacturing sector and MSME, which in turn will encourage job-growth, he said.
He said his ministry is also addressing the issues of easing compliance burden to promote an enabling business environment. A single unified web portal is being developed for online registration of units, reporting of inspections and submission of annual returns and redressal of grievances.
He said an inspection scheme has also been notified with an objective of simplifying business regulations and for bringing transparency and accountability in labour inspections.
