The main purpose of the Act is to provide practical training to technically qualified persons in various trades. The objective is promotion of new skilled manpower. The scheme is also extended to engineers and diploma holders.
The Act applies to areas and industries as notified by Central government. [Section 1(4)].
Scheme of the Act
There are 38 Sections in total and 1 Schedule. This Schedule is about modifications in the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 with regard to its application to apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
Obligation of Employe
Every employer is under obligation to provide the apprentice with the training in his trade in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under.
If the employer is not himself qualified in the trade, he has to ensure that a person who possesses the prescribed qualification is placed in charge of the training of the apprentice.
Every employer has to provide adequate instructional staff, possessing such qualifications as may be prescribed for imparting practical and theoretical training and facilities for trade test of apprentices; and
Every employer is under obligation to take apprentices in prescribed ratio of the skilled workers in his employment in different trades. [Section 11].
Ø In every trade, there will be reserved places for scheduled castes and schedules tribes. [Section 3A].
Ratio of trade apprentices to workers shall be determined by Central Government. Labour can engage more number of apprentices than prescribed minimum. [Section 8(1)]. The employer has to make arrangements for practical training of apprentice [Section 9(1)].
