8.         Number of apprentices for  a  designated  trade -

 

¹[(1)   the Central   Government   shall,   after   consulting   the  Central Apprenticeship  Council,  by  order  notified  in  the   Official Gazette,  determine  for each designated trade the ratio or trade apprentices to workers  other  than  unskilled  workers  in  that trade:

           

Provided  that nothing contained in this sub-section shall be deemed to prevent any employer from engaging a number of trade apprentices  in  excess  of  the  ratio  determined  under   this sub-section.

 

(2)      in  determining  the  ratio  under  sub-section  (1),  the Central Government shall have regard to the facilities  available for  apprenticeship  training  under  this  Act in the designated trade concerned as well as to the facilities that may have to  be made  available  by  an  employer for the training of graduate or technician apprentices [technician (vocational)  apprentices]²,  if any,  in  pursuance  of any notice issued to him under sub-section (3-A) by the Central Apprenticeship Adviser or such other  person as is referred to in that sub-section.

 

3)      the  Apprenticeship  Adviser  may,  by notice in writing, require an employer to engage such number  of  trade  apprentices within  the  ratio  determined  by the Central Government for any designated trade in his establishment, to undergo  apprenticeship training  in  that  trade and the employer shall comply with such requisition:

 

Provided,  that  in  making  any  requisition  under this sub-section, the Apprenticeship Adviser shall have regard  to  the facilities actually available in the establishment concerned.

 

            ³[Provided further that the Apprenticeship Adviser may, on a representation made to him by an employer and keeping in view the more realistic employment potential,  training facilities and other relevant factors, permit him to engage such a number of apprentices for a designated trade as is lesser than a number arrived at by the ratio for that trade, not being lesser than twenty per cent of the number so arrived at, subject to the condition that the employer shall engage apprentices in other trades in excess in number equivalent to such shortfall.] 

 

(3-A)   the Central Apprenticeship Adviser or  any  other  person not  below  the  rank  of  an  Assistant  Apprenticeship  Adviser authorised by the Central Apprenticeship Adviser  in  writing  in this behalf shall, having regard to-

(i)      the number of managerial persons (including technical and supervisory persons) employed in a designated trade;

(ii)      the   number   of  management  trainees  engaged  in  the establishment;

(iii)     the totality of the training facilities  available  in  a designated trade; and

 

(iv)     such  other  factors  as  he  may  consider  fit  in  the circumstances of the case, by notice in writing, require an employer to impart  training  to such  number  of  graduate  or technician apprentices [technician (vocational) apprentices]⁴, in such trade in his  establishment  as may  be  specified  in  such notice and the employer shall comply with such requisition.

 

Explanation – In this sub-section the expression “management trainee” means a person who is engaged by an employer for undergoing a course of training in the establishment of the employer ( not being apprenticeship training under this Act) subject to the condition that on successful completion of such training, such person shall be employed by the employer on a regular basis.]

 

(4)      Several employers may join together for  the  purpose  of providing  practical  training  to  the apprentices under them by moving them between their respective establishments.

 

(5)      Where, having regard to the public interest, a number  of apprentices  in  excess  of  the  ratio determined by the Central Government ⁵[ or in excess of the number  specified  in  a  notice issued  under  sub-section  (3-A)]  should,  in  the opinion of the appropriate Government be trained, the appropriate Government may require employers to train the additional number of apprentices.

 

(6)     Every employer to whom such requisition as  aforesaid  is made,  shall  comply  with  the  requisition  if  the  Government  concerned makes available such  additional  facilities  and  such additional  financial  assistance  as are considered necessary by the Apprenticeship Adviser for the  training  of  the  additional number of apprentices.

 

(7)      Any  employer  not  satisfied  with  the  decision of the Apprenticeship Adviser under sub-section (6), may make a reference to the Central Apprenticeship Council and such reference shall be decided by a Committee thereof appointed by that Council for  the purpose and the decision of that Committee shall be final.

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 1.              Sub-Sections (1), (2), (3) and (3-A), subs. by Act 27 of 1973

2.              Ins. by Act 41 of 1986 (w.e.f. 16-12-1987).

3.              Ins. by Act 4  of 1997.

4.              Ins. by Act 41 of 1986 (w.e.f. 16-12-1987)

5.              Ins. by Act  27 of 1973.