The Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Mr Premal Udani, has said the MNREGA, the flagship employment guarantee scheme of the Central Government, needs to be modified and made more industry-friendly.

The Council had made some suggestions to this effect to both the Textiles Ministry and the Planning Commission, Mr Udani said.

Sharing the Council's suggestion, he said “we have requested that they include training in the apparel industry (as part of NREGA). This will make the youth employable.”

“Further, this training would help in an incremental increase in the jobs created by the apparel industry. The Government could handhold the industry for some time initially,” he said.

According to him, at the present growth rate and considering the huge opportunity for garments in the domestic and export markets, the industry should be in a position to absorb another 2 to 3 million people to its labour pool in the next two-three years. “The industry is poised for rapid growth and is expected to solve the unemployment problem of the country.”

While stating this, he said, “Trained labour is not available. We need certain amendments to the Labour Laws which are today outdated. The AEPC has come up with a model code of conduct which we plan to roll out in every factory.”

Yet another concern that Mr Udani voiced was with respect to productivity. He said “Orders are small and not productivity-friendly. We are inviting experts from Japan and Hong Kong to improve our productivity standards.”

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