OBCs in quota ambit for apprenticeship

The Govt renews its appeal to India Inc to proactively give more jobs to people from the weaker sections, reports Aloke Tikku.

On a day the Rajya Sabha approved an amendment to extend the quota benefit for apprenticeship to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public and private sector firms, the government renewed its appeal to India Inc to proactively give more jobs to people from the weaker sections.

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The government had moved a Bill proposing reservations to OBCs in apprenticeship in addition to quotas for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes last year. Piloting the legislation through the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, labour minister Oscar Fernandes also committed the government to initiating amendments in the future to considering reservations to women and the disabled.

The Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, that will reserve training places for OBCs, was widely welcomed by MPs. Companies, however, are not obliged to absorb the raw technical hands trained at their establishments for a year at half the minimum wages.