Understanding apprenticeships for employment

Ranjan K Baruah *

We are familiar with different words when it comes to job and employment. Today we shall discuss apprenticeships. Recently the Industrial Training Institute , Kokrajhar organized an Apprenticeships Summit for the benefits of young people of the region which was also attended by me .

It is a System for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading).

Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a license to practice in a regulated occupation. Most of their training is done while working for an employer who helps the apprentices learn their trade or profession, in exchange for their continued labor for an agreed period after they have achieved measurable competencies.

Apprenticeship lengths vary significantly across sectors, professions, roles and cultures. In some cases, people who successfully complete an apprenticeship can reach the "journeyman" or professional certification level of competence.

In other cases, they can be offered a permanent job at the company that provided the placement. Apprenticeship programmes are organized in many different ways across countries and as such there is no single, standardized definition of apprenticeships.

The International Labour Organisation promotes the concept of a Quality Apprenticeships, which are defined, as "a unique form of technical vocational education and training, combining on-the-job training and off-the-job learning, which enable learners from all walks of life to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies required to carry out a specific occupation.

They are regulated and financed by laws and collective agreements and policy decisions arising from social dialogue, and require a written contract that details the respective roles and responsibilities of the apprentice and the employer; they also provide the apprentice with remuneration and standard social protection coverage.

Following a clearly defined and structured period of training and the successful completion of a formal assessment, apprentices obtain a recognized qualification.

In simple terms it is a Skill Training program wherein a person is engaged by a company as an apprentice and gains classroom (theory) learning for a short period, followed by on-the-job (practical) training. An apprentice is a person who has signed a contract of apprenticeship with an establishment to undergo apprenticeship training.

Apprenticeships are mandated under law for all establishments having more than 3 employees (including contractual employees) to engage apprentices. Quality apprenticeships based on a robust regulatory framework and social dialogue can contribute to lowering youth unemployment rates, reducing skills mismatch and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises.

Historically, apprenticeships have been considered primarily as a means of facilitating the school-to-work transition for young people. However, in the context of a fast changing world of work, the apprenticeship model is empowering both youth and older workers to acquire new skills, reskill and upskill throughout their working lives.

Apprenticeship training is a course of training in an industry or establishment, under a contract of apprenticeship which consists of: - a) basic training component and b) on-the-job-training /practical training at workplace.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is a scheme of Government of India to provide financial support to establishments undertaking the apprenticeship training. The NAPS was launched on 19th August 2016.

The Apprenticeship Program in India under the Apprenticeship Act 1961 is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at the National level. Students from ITI or graduates or any other may register themselves for the apprenticeships opportunities.

I wish that students and other aspirants may avail the opportunities and move ahead in their lives.

For more details regarding Trades & Courses please visit apprenticeship portal
http://apprenticeshipindia.org.