TheApprentices(Amendment)Bill,2014

TheApprentices(Amendment)Bill,2014wasintroducedinLokSabhaonAugust7,2014.Itproposestoamendthe
ApprenticesAct,1961.
TheActregulatesthetrainingofapprenticesintheindustry.AnInterMinisterialGroup(IMG)hadrecommended
variouschangestotheActtomakeapprenticeshipmoreresponsivetoyouthandindustry.TheStatementofObjects
andReasonsstatesthattheamendmentsproposedintheBillarebasedonIMGsrecommendations.
Definitions:TheBillamendsthedefinitionofappropriategovernmenttoincludeanestablishmentoperatinginfour
ormorestatestoberegulatedbythecentralgovernment.Italsoamendsthedefinitionsof:(i)designatedtrade,(ii)
graduateortechnicianapprentice,(iii)tradeapprentice,(iv)industryand(v)worker.TheBilladdstwodefinitions:
(i)optionaltrade,and(ii)portalsite.
Minimumageforanapprentice:TheActsetstheminimumageforbeingengagedasanapprenticeat14years.
TheBilladdsthattheminimumageforapprenticeshipindesignatedtradesrelatedtohazardousindustriesshallbe18
years.
Numberofapprentices:TheActsaysthatthecentralgovernment,afterconsultingtheCentralApprenticeship
Council(CAC)establishedundertheActshalldeterminetheratiooftradeapprenticestoworkers(exceptunskilled
workers)foreachdesignatedtrade.TheBillstatesthatthecentralgovernmentshallprescribethenumberof
apprenticestobeengagedbyanemployerfordesignatedtradeandoptionaltrade.
Cooperationbetweenemployersfortraining:TheBillpermitsmultipleemployerstocometogether,either
themselvesorthroughanapprovedagency(vs.onlythemselvesaspertheAct),toprovideapprenticeshiptraining(vs.
practicaltrainingaspertheAct)toapprenticesunderthem.
Practicaltrainingtoapprentices:TheActstatesthateveryemployershallmakesuitablearrangementsinhis
workshopforimpartingpracticaltrainingtoapprentices,aspertheprogrammeapprovedbytheAdviser.TheBill
removestherequirementforAdvisersapproval.
Basictrainingtoapprentices:TheActstatesthattradeapprenticeswhohavenotreceivedpriorinstitutional
trainingshallbeimpartedbasictrainingbeforeadmissionintheworkshopforpracticaltraining.TheBillspecifiesthat
suchtrainingcanbeprovidedinanyinstitutewithadequatefacilities.
Syllabusandequipmentforpracticaltraining:TheActstatesthatthesyllabusandequipmentforpractical
trainingshallbeasapprovedbythecentralgovernment(withCACconsultation).TheBilllimitstheprovisionfor
traininginadesignatedtradeonly.
Grantofcertificate:TheActspecifiesthateverytradeapprenticeshouldappearforaproficiencytestconductedby
theNationalCouncilforVocationalTraining(NCVT),oncompletionofhistraining.Onpassingthetest,NCVTshall
granthimacertificateofproficiency.TheBilladdsthatsuchtestsmaybeconductedandcertificatesmaybegranted
byotherauthorisedagenciesaswell.
Hoursofwork,overtime,leaveandholidays:TheActstatesthattheweeklyanddailyhoursofworkandleave
entitlementsofanapprenticeshallbeasprescribedbyRules.TheBillstatesthatthehoursofworkandleavewillbeas
perthediscretionorpolicyoftheemployer.
Offencesandpenalties:TheActspecifiescertainoffenceswhicharepunishablewithimprisonmentuptosix
monthsorwithafine(quantumunspecified)orboth.TheBillspecifiestheamount/maximumamountofthefineand
removestheprovisionforimprisonmentforsuchoffences.
PowertomakeRules:TheActpermitsthecentralgovernment(afterconsultingwiththeCAC)tomakeRulesfor
implementingtheAct.TheBillstatesthatthesepowersshallincludethepowertomakeRulesretrospectivelywith
effectfromadateonorafterthePresidentgrantshisassenttotheBill.NoRuleshallhavearetrospectiveeffectifit
prejudiciallyaffectstheinterestsofanypersontowhomsuchRulemaybeapplicable.