Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - India (Ratification: 2009)

Other comments on C142

Direct Request

2019
2017
2013
2011

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies. Coordination with employment. In response to the Committee’s 2017 direct request, the Government indicates that the Skill India Mission provides the institutional framework for scaling up skills development efforts across the country. In this regard, the Committee notes that, according to the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2018–22, approximately 460 million people in India require upskilling or reskilling and only 17 per cent of jobseekers possess a diploma or a certificate in technical courses. The Skill India Mission seeks to train at least 400 million skilled workers by 2022, with support from central and state government agencies and with the active engagement of the private sector. In this context, the Government also refers to the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) certification scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The Government adds that there are more than 2,000 industry-oriented job roles aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) that are made available with the active engagement of industries. The Committee notes that, according to the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, at least 25 per cent of higher education institutes in India are to offer courses related to developing specialized skills at an appropriate NSQF level to facilitate horizontal and vertical mobility. In the context of apprenticeships, the Committee notes that, according to the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), it is anticipated that the engagement of apprentices will be increased to 50,000 persons by 2020. The Government indicates that skills development training is delivered by expert training partners affiliated with the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), or Sector Skill Councils (SSC). The PMKVY training centres provide short-term training, aligned with the NSQF, to candidates that are either school leavers or unemployed. The centres also provide training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, and financial and digital literacy. After completing training, candidates are assessed and, if successful, are offered placement assistance. The training and assessment fees are covered by the Government. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the training partners are required to ensure a 70 per cent candidate placement rate. In addition, persons with prior learning experience or skills are assessed and certified under the recognition of prior learning (RPL) component of the PMKVY scheme. The Government adds that the MSDE intends to establish aspirational Model Training Centres (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs)) in every district across the country, to create a sustainable institutional model for competency-based skills development training. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has taken steps to make the Skill India Mission more inclusive, by ensuring the participation of disadvantaged groups, including women, persons belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and persons with disabilities. The Government has placed a focus on training women, highlighting that women made up almost 46 per cent of the total number of participants in all training conducted from 2016–18. The Committee also notes that, out of almost 7 million people (6,919,661) trained, approximately 20 per cent were members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information, including statistics disaggregated by age, sex, social origin and region, on the impact of the vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes which have been adopted. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which it promotes effective access to vocational guidance and training for all workers who may require upskilling or reskilling as a result of the changing needs of the labour market. It also requests the Government to provide information on the results of measures implemented with regard to integration of skilling with higher education as well as on the impact of the NAPS. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact and the number of PMKKs that have been established and on the manner in which the training partners ensure the 70 per cent candidate placement rate within the training framework provided by the PMKVY training centres. In addition, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government indicate the manner in which the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ensures effective coordination between vocational education and training policies and programmes on the one hand, and employment (through the public employment services) on the other.

Article 1(5). Equality of opportunity. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government on the different training programmes targeting disadvantaged groups, including women and young persons, those belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, persons with disabilities, those belonging to nomadic and de-notified nomadic tribes and transgender persons. The Government refers to the Affirmative Action division created by the NSDC, which focuses on the inclusion of diverse communities by facilitating the promotion of skills training among members of marginalized communities and fostering cooperation to this end between companies, governments and industry leaders. It also refers to the Skill Council for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD), which seeks to increase access to training for persons with disabilities. The Common Norms, the gazette notification of the Government, has provided incentives such as funding for skilling persons with disabilities, covering the cost of assistive devices and post-placement support. In addition, a skills training programme for manual scavengers and “safai karamcharis” aims to provide these workers with a dignified livelihood by enabling them to develop their skills and facilitating their creation of local enterprises. Job counselling and post-training services are provided to persons belonging to nomadic and de-notified nomadic tribes. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has adopted the NSQF and is providing skills training in vocational and job-oriented courses through vocational institutes to enhance the employability of young persons living below the double poverty line who belong to the scheduled castes. The Government indicates that consultations have been held with various stakeholders, including the disadvantaged groups concerned, to understand their challenges and develop tailored solutions. The SSCs have also met to consult on ways to increase numbers of persons from marginalized communities in skills development programmes. The Government indicates that in 2017–18, 15,910 persons were trained by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and 8,532 of these (53 per cent) were placed in employment. Rates are lower for the 9,285 persons trained by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), out of which 3,907 persons (42 per cent) were placed in employment. Recognizing the need to break stereotypes and provide training for women in non-traditional jobs where they are under-represented, the Government has provided skills training to women in an estimated 200 jobs located in 32 sectors, including in the healthcare, automotive, retail, tourism, electronics and hardware sectors. To make training more accessible and reduce drop-out rates, women are provided transport costs and post-placement support. Noting the discrimination encountered by transgender persons, an NSQF-aligned training initiative for transgender communities was launched in Kolkata and Mumbai in association with transgender-led organizations. Given that a majority of those belonging to disadvantaged groups have low literacy levels, a Functional Literacy Module has been developed to provide functional literacy in skills such as basic reading, writing, mathematics, digital literacy and work etiquette. In 2017–18, 47,475 minority women received training under the “Nai Roshni” scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women. The Government also refers to the “Seekho aur Kamao” (Learn and Earn) programme, a placement-linked skills development scheme for minority youth. The Committee notes that an evaluation of the scheme covering eight states showed that more than 85 per cent of trainees covered by the scheme from 2013–16 were placed in employment. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide up-to-date information on the outcomes of the vocational training, self-employment schemes, and other vocational education and training measures aimed at enhancing the employability of women – including minority women – as well as young persons, those belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, persons with disabilities, transgender persons and other disadvantaged groups that encounter barriers to accessing and remaining in the labour market. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the implementation and impact of the NSQF-aligned training initiative for transgender communities implemented in Kolkata and Mumbai. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the outcomes of the consultations held with the disadvantaged groups, including the needs and solutions identified in the process, and on the activities of the SSCs within the framework of facilitating access to skills development programmes for persons from marginalized communities.

Article 3. Vocational guidance information. The Government indicates that vocational guidance, job matching and counselling are provided to a broad category of job seekers, ranging from unskilled workers to skilled professionals, through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. Moreover, 25 NCS centres for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, as well as 21 NCS centres aimed at workers with disabilities have been launched to provide vocational training, guidance and counselling to these groups. The Committee notes that state governments provided further vocational guidance to disadvantaged groups through three special exchanges for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, 42 special exchanges for workers with disabilities and five special employment exchanges for women. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the impact of measures adopted and implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with regard to skills development and vocational guidance, particularly for disadvantaged groups. The Committee also once again requests the Government to supply copies of the information made publicly available in the context of vocational guidance and counselling and to provide information on vocational guidance measures taken or envisaged by central ministries and agencies as part of the national strategy.

Article 4. Vocational training and lifelong learning. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that no updated information is available concerning measures adopted by the Industrial Training Institutes, or on measures related to vocational training. The Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information, disaggregated by age, sex and specific group of worker, such as scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, on the impact of the measures adopted by the Industrial Training Institutes. It also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure that vocational training programmes cover different fields of the economy and are adapted to the changing requirements of individuals throughout their lives and to the changing needs of the labour market.

Article 5. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to indicate the manner in which effect is given to Article 5 of the Convention. Noting that the Government has provided no information in this respect, the Committee therefore reiterates its request that the Government communicate updated information regarding the manner in which it is ensured that the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes are carried out in cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations and other interested bodies, as required under the Convention.