Samsung Announces Guidelines for Apprenticeship Training in India

Samsung India Electronics today announced a set of guidelines for apprenticeship training in collaboration with Partners in Change (PIC) India. It has been co-developed as a part of Samsung’s continued efforts to strengthen and uphold its law observance policy in India.

These set of guidelines aim to provide general guidance for operating apprenticeship training within an organization and for the development of apprenticeship standards. It has been designed to meet the requirements of Samsung India as well as its suppliers and the Research & Development centres in Noida, Delhi and Bangalore, for apprenticeship standards and for engagement of apprentices.

Reaffirming Samsung’s commitment to legal compliance within its business ecosystem, it specifies various acts and rules that must be complied within the recruitment process, apprenticeship training, training hours, leaves, etc. which ensure that the apprentice’s rights are protected.

These guidelines also provide a framework for responsibly managed apprenticeships that promote social equality and non-discrimination irrespective of one’s gender, caste, tribe, religion, sexual orientation and other markers of difference.

The training programme, which includes practical experience and related theoretical instruction, accelerates the development of a skilled and versatile workforce. Facilitating the setting up of apprenticeships in India, it also contributes to the furtherance of Government of India’s “Skill India” programme. Also Samsung has been utilizing apprentices for the purpose of apprenticeship training in India and treats fairly with respect and dignity. In addition, Samsung has been encouraging to minimize its scale in the facilities as suggested by the government.

“A distinctive feature of the guidelines is that they extend not just to Samsung in India but also to their suppliers. There are also some progressive human rights elements, such as reference to non-discrimination during the process of engagement of apprentices and an insistence on the principle of consent, together with enabling mechanisms for grievance redressal. This is important and in line with the Constitutional values of India and our National Voluntary Guidelines on the responsibilities of business,” Pradeep Narayanan, Director, Partners in Change.

Samsung is committed to making continual efforts to ensure we are doing our very best to promote compliance with local labour laws and providing a socially responsible working environment. These guidelines are a positive step in that direction.

The guidelines for apprenticeship training are available on the website of Samsung India Electronics at http://news.samsung.com/in.