‘Apprenticeship Act to be amended to increase opportunities’

New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Centre proposes to amend the Apprenticeship Act to further enhance apprenticeship opportunities for the youth, and the amendment bill is likely to be come up in the Parliament during the Monsoon Session, a senior official said on Thursday.
In a group media interaction, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Secretary Pravin Kumar said that in the proposed amendments, service sectors would be brought under the ambit of the Act.
“Amendments are made to make it more stakeholder friendly and to increase the number of trades with inclusion of the service sector,” he said.
With introduction of “optional trade” category, the Act will expand the sectors where apprenticeship could take place, he added.
“Removal of stringent penalty clauses involving imprisonment with fine by executive authorities will also be made part of amendments,” he said.
Pravin Kumar also emphasised that the definition of establishment will be amended by including any place where any trade, commerce, or industry activity is taking place, including educational or training institutions.