Apprentices Bill amended to provide OBC quota

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) The Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2007 seeking to provide reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in apprenticeship training, today received Parliamentary approval with the Lok Sabha passing it by a voice vote amid pandemonium.

The Bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha last week, seeks to provide flexibility up to 50 per cent in engagement of apprentices in a trade provided the overall quota fixed for the establishment remains the same.

The Bill, moved by Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, amends the original Act of 1961 providing reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes only, Explaining the need to amend the Apprentices Act, the Government said that it was aimed at making the Bill more responsive and relevant to growing needs of the industry and also to meet the requirement of skilled and semi-skilled workers.

UNI