EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
- MSDE consults on scaling apprenticeship uptake in MSMEs, with pilots and policy/regulatory recommendations
- Sub-committee under the Central Apprenticeship Council reviews inclusion-focused apprenticeship expansion, including incentives, social security, and online/virtual apprenticeship guidelines
DETAILED NOTES:
1. MSDE consults on scaling apprenticeship uptake in MSMEs, with pilots and policy/regulatory recommendations
- What happened:
- MSDE convened a consultative workshop on scaling apprenticeship uptake in MSMEs, focusing on barriers to employer participation and feasibility of scalable models.
- The discussion highlighted that apprenticeship engagement remains concentrated among large/medium enterprises, with 94% of MSME apprentices hosted in private sector establishments.
- Stakeholders identified priority challenges and actionable levers, and co-designed near-term pilot initiatives across selected sectors/geographies with success metrics, alongside policy and regulatory recommendations for MSDE consideration.
- Why it matters (if obvious from text):
- The focus is on making apprenticeships simpler and more adoptable for small businesses, aiming to expand apprenticeship scale and workforce absorption outcomes.
2. Sub-committee under the Central Apprenticeship Council reviews inclusion-focused apprenticeship expansion, including incentives, social security, and online/virtual apprenticeship guidelines
- What happened:
- After the workshop, MSDE convened the Sub-Committee on Promotion of Inclusion and MSME Participation in Apprenticeship Training (under the 38th Central Apprenticeship Council).
- The sub-committee reviewed mandate areas including women, PwDs, SC/ST/OBC, and remote-area candidates, while also targeting significantly enhanced MSME participation and expanded apprenticeship intake with safeguards.
- It discussed targeted incentives and social security measures under the National Apprenticeship Scheme, and guidelines for online/virtual apprenticeship to improve inclusion and accessibility.
- Why it matters (if obvious from text):
- The government is signaling a combined push on MSME scaling + inclusion + delivery-channel modernization (online/virtual) within the apprenticeship framework.