Employment exchanges to become career centres: Government

New Delhi: Government has decided to transform employment exchanges into career centres to connect youth with job opportunities even as it admitted that it has no specific scheme for short-term training of workers affected due to closure of industries.

Labour and Employment Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the Lok Sabha that 3,785 workers were affected in 2013 due to closure of 92 units. The number of workers affected was 1,603 in 2012 following the closure of 45 units.

In 2011, 89 units had shut down and 4,274 workers were affected. He said that the government has decided to transform employment exchanges into career centres to connect youth with job opportunities in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology as well as through counselling and training.

The Minister said government has no specific scheme for short-term training of workers affected by closure of industries and factories. "However, such workers are eligible for the various skill development schemes run by (various) ministries," he said.

As per data compiled by National Skill Development Agency, 75 lakh persons were given skill development training in 2013-14. In reply to a question on labour courts, Tomar said under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, the Centre has set up 22 Central Government Industrial Tribunals-cum-Labour Courts in various states for resolution of industrial disputes arising in central sphere.

Responding to a supplementary, he said the government is aware of the delays in disposal of cases. The progress of court or tribunal proceedings is reviewed from time to time. He said that orders passed by such court are binding on the employers.

"In majority of cases, the employers implement the orders of the labour courts/tribunals. However, in case an award is not implemented, the worker can approach the labour department for implementation of the award. The implementing authority, after following due process of law, can prosecute the employers under Section 29 of the Industrial Disputes Act for not implementing the award or order of the court or tribunal," he said.