India to develop framework to benchmark emigrant workers

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) The Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Ministry will step up its skill upgradation programme for emigrant workers throughout the country with a view to enhancing the image and perception of Indian workers abroad.

The OIA Ministry today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to give further momentum to the programme whose similar edition had already been implemented in five states by the respective governments.

"The objective of the MoU is to institute a process to develop and upgrade the skills of Indian workers desirous of emigrating overseas for the purpose of employment," a ministry spokesman said.

Both the Ministries will work towards developing a framework to benchmark, assess and certify Indian workers seeking employment abroad.

"This is being done with a view to enhancing the image and perception of Indian workers abroad and equip them to be more competitive in an international working environment and promote greater employment opportunities for Indian workers," the spokesman said, adding that the programme will also help overseas Indian workers move up the wage chain.

While the OIA Ministry will fund the training programme, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will implement the training programme through its training centers across the country.

In the year 2007-08, the target will be to train approximately 2,000 emigrant workers in various trades such as electrical, machinist, computers, electronics, welding, plumbing etc. for employment in the Gulf countries.

The focus will be on the manufacturing and construction sectors.

The duration of the course will vary from 15 days to three months.

The OIA Ministry proposes to spend upto Rs nine crores on skill upgradation of workers for overseas employment in partnership with other institutions.

UNI