LabourNet launches skill development scheme under PMKVY

With RPL certification the tailors can opt for fresh trainings to upgrade their skills. A 12-hour orientation session was conducted as a part of preparatory training for RPL in apparel skills on November 14. This involved 6 hours of training in technical skills followed by 4 hours of soft skills and 2 hours induction into assessments, related concepts, processes and more.

People who have been trained informally or have learnt through experience and are working in garment units or self-employed are not able to meet the demands from the industry. Due to their unorganised nature of work and lack of formal training, their skills and years of experience are left unrecognised and as a result of this, they are underpaid and fail to get secure employment.

RPL addresses issues in skill development of unorganised workforce. Through RPL assessments and certifications, candidates will be able to align competencies that they have acquired informally with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) for better opportunities in employment and higher education.

The scheme will also lead to the creation of an equitable system where the workers in the informal sector, who have acquired the skills on their own, can appear for RPL assessments and upskill themselves.

“Skilled tailors with certification get paid higher when compared to uncertified ones thereby, the tailors received an RPL certificate post the session which enables them to work at various apparel companies across the country at a reasonable wage,” said Gayathri Vasudevan, co-founder of LabourNet.

Raymond is working with LabourNet to run the intervention for its tailors in order to give each tailor an industry recognised certification that would help formalise the individual's learning and give him industry-level credibility. The company also wants to benchmark its tailors based on performance and categorise them as silver, gold or platinum tailors to chart out a career growth path for them. It will also work on building subsequent learning interventions for its trainers based on identified areas of improvement. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India