Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has inaugurated the first employability centre in the State at the district employment exchange here.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the State government would give top priority to building job skills among the youth.
He said that the government is giving shape to new innovative projects realising the futility of unemployment wages and hollow declarations. He pointed out that the major hurdle for the unemployed youth in the state is the lack of industry-compatible skills.
He hoped that the employment centres would help fill the void resulting from lack of continuous training and eligibility of jobs despite high educational qualifications of prospective candidates.
The employability centres will help make prospective young candidates fit for jobs by improving language and communication skills and developing personality.
Employability Centres are being established in the state as part of the new Labour policy of the Government. The idea is to convert employment exchanges in the state into work skill development centres.
The project is part of the additional skill enhancement programme charted out in the labour policy and is to be implemented through the National Employment Service Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the Labour Miniser, Shibu Baby John said that his department is also planning to convert employment exchanges in Kozhikode and Kollam to Employability Centres in the first phase of the project.
The government plans to convert all employment exchanges in the State to Employability Centres within two years.
The department is trying to inculcate a new work culture in the state through the Employability Centres. Various programmes to help improve the skill of job aspirants in the construction, nursing, security, jewellery making, oil and natural gas sectors will be introduced shortly, he said.