National Apprenticeship Scheme Launched

Government has notified National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.

It is for the first time a scheme has been notified to offer financial incentives to employers.

The Scheme has an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore with a target of 50 Lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20.

25% of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice would be reimbursed to the employers directly by the Government of India.

The scheme also supports basic training, which is an essential component of apprenticeship training by sharing of basic training cost with basic training providers in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship without any formal trade training (fresher apprentices).

Online portal for ease of administering. All transactions including registration by employers, apprentices, registration of contract and payment to employers will be made as online mode.

Eligible employers shall engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of the establishment.

Employers need to register on the apprenticeship portal and must have TIN/TAN and any one of EPFO/ESIC/LIN. Employers are invited to register on the apprenticeship portal to avail benefits under the scheme.

Brand Ambassadors will be appointed for states and for local industrial clusters to act as facilitators and promoters to promote apprenticeship training.