Question : UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO CLOSURE OF INDUSTRIES

(a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of workers have been affected and/or rendered unemployed due to closure of a number of industries/factories in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of industries/factories, closed down and workers affected during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government imparts or proposes to impart short-term training to workers in order to equip them with skill/expertise enabling them to take up self-employment activities;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the number of workers benefited as a result thereof, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the remedial measures taken by the Government to provide employment to the workers rendered unemployed as a result of closure of industrial units in the country?

MINISTER OF STEEL, MINES AND LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 DUE FOR REPLY ON 14.07.2014 BY SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN, M.P. REGARDING UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO CLOSURE OF INDUSTRIES

(a) & (b) Yes Madam. As per the information compiled by the Labour Bureau, the State-wise details of factories/units closed during the last three years and workers affected is at Annexure I. There has been no closure of factories in the central sphere.

(c), (d) and (e) The Government has no specific scheme for short-term training of workers affected due to closure of industries and factories. However, such workers are eligible for the various skill development schemes run by the Ministries. According to the data compiled by National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), about 75 lakh persons were given skill development training in the year 2013-14 under the schemes of these Ministries.

The Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, runs a Scheme for Counselling, Retraining and Redeployment (CRR) for separated employees of Central Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs). The aim of retraining of the employees is to reorient them through short duration training programmes to enable them to adjust to the new environment and adopt new vocations after their separation from the PSEs due to Voluntary Retirement Scheme/ Voluntary Separation Scheme or retrenchment due to closure/ restructuring of the enterprise.

Available job opportunities are also provided to unemployed persons through the Employment Exchanges under the State Governments. The Government has decided to transform these Exchanges into Career Centres to connect youth with job opportunities in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology as well as through counseling and training.