Future belongs to skilled workers in overseas: Edwardo

Panaji, Sep 21: Demand for unskilled workers in overseas market is on a steep decline and the future belongs to skilled labourers, especially those with multiple skills, according to Edwardo Faleiro Goa Commissioner for NRI Affairs.

Mr Faleiro was speaking at the graduation function of the Foreign Orientation Course and Skill up-gradation in the Hospitality Industry organised by Department of NRI Affairs, through Overseas Employment Agency of Goa in collaboration with the Agnel Institute of Food Craft and Culinary Science at Verna South Goa yesterday.

Mr Faleiro said the overseas employment market is highly imperfect, leading often to malpractices by intermediaries, low wages, poor working conditions and exploitation of workers. The situation, he said, becomes worse due to lack of awareness and of skill among immigrant workers.

At least 24 trainee students from various disciplines, including Hospitality, housekeeping and others participated in the course.

He said the purpose of these training programmes is to empower potential emigrants so that they were not exploited in the host country. He said so far six training programmes have been held by the Overseas Employment Agency, which is a part of Office of NRI Affairs. These training programmes have been held in the trades of electrician, food production, refrigeration and air-conditioning, plumbing and hospitality industry. The next programme he said would be for fitters, which would be held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, Fatorda from October 13.

Mr Faleiro said in the context of the experience obtained so far, the Department of NRI Affairs would revive and upgrade their training programmes. The selected trades would be country specific and the curriculum would contain orientation in the laws, culture and language of the host country. The duration of the revised training programmes will range from 15 days to three months, depending upon the requirements and skills gaps.

He further said participation of industrial associations and NGOs in the designing and implementation of these skill training programmes would be welcomed.

UNI