Parliament has passed the Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The bill aims at enhancing the skills of youth and make them employable. It seeks to remove imprisonment as punishment for violating the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961, allowing employers to fix the hours of work and leave as per their discretion or policy, and increase the minimum age for apprentices in hazardous industries.

The bill also seeks to provide apprenticeship training to non-engineering graduates and diploma holders, and new trades, including IT-enabled services, would be included in the scheme. Rajya Sabha passed the bill by a voice vote yesterday. It had been passed by the Lok Sabha in the last session. Replying to the debate, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya yesterday said that the government has brought the policy keeping transparency in view and it will involve all stakeholders.