Launch of pilot on National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)

NATS was launched in Chennai by BOAT, ILO and MoHRD in collaboration with the Ambattur Industrial Estates and Manufacturers Association (AIEMA) on the 16th of June during the inauguration of the ACMEE Exhibition 2016.

The Joint Secretary, MoHRD D K Palliwal said that the NATS pilot will demonstrate greater synergies between the apprentices and automobile industry proving to be a win-win for both. The pilot learnings will form the basis for a technical operational framework to strengthen NATS implementation by BOATs in the states. Sher Verick, Deputy Director for the Decent Work Team South Asia and Country office India said, “Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) eight calls for, among other targets, the achievement of full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men — including youth and people with disabilities. It also strives to achieve equal pay between men and women by 2030. Successful realization of goal eight depends upon how a nation enhances the skills and capabilities of its existing and future labour force. Apprenticeship training is an important medium by which young people can acquire sector-specific skills and make the transition from a class-room to a practical learning environment”.

India faces structural-unemployment. While the job-seeking educated is on the rise, industries, despite having vacancies, are not hiring this pool of potential workforce due to the lack of skills. “Apprenticeship training through NATS helps in bridging this skill gap” said Gabriel H. Bordado, Senior Skills and Employability Specialist, ILO Decent Work Team South Asia. ILO will bring in international good practices in apprenticeship training and develop the training curriculum for the one and a half year duration of the NATS pilot programme in consultation with AIEMA and BOAT. It will equip young people with practical knowledge and requisite skills in their field of work. NATS will provide technical support in the training of the apprentices and post-training evaluation. “ILO has been imparting productive and quality improvement trainings to the AIEMA members under ILO’s global programme, Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE), since 2012. The programme is geared to enhance cluster-competitiveness” said N.K. Murali, AIEMA. “NATS pilot in collaboration with ILO is a natural extension of this partnership which is expected to improve quality of manpower required by the member units to quickly respond to market changes” he added.