Amazon India Launches Skill Development Program on World Youth Skill Day
The pilot program is aimed at engaging, training and upskilling 1000 youth; under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
July 2020: Amazon India has launched a skilling program under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), across its Fulfilment Centres in India. The company aims at training youth whose learning journey or placement was impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apprentices will be identified through various sources including NSDC-accredited training centers (DDU-GKY Centers) and the NSDC Skilling Database. This program will enable Amazon India to contribute to the government’s commitment towards skilling and increasing the employability of the apprentices.
During the 6-month program, the apprentices will be trained on warehousing and Inventory Management skills for the roles of warehouse associates and process associates. The curriculum will consist of a mix of classroom sessions, on-the-job learning and assessments held at the fulfillment centers in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. All training sessions will be conducted with a high standard of preventive health and safety measures including social distancing and regular sanitization.
The apprentices will receive a monthly-stipend in line with guidelines mandated under NAPS. At the end of the program, apprentices will be assessed by the Logistics Sector Skill Council, and post the assessment they will receive a certification. After certification, the apprentices will be eligible to be considered for available seasonal and full-time employment opportunities.
“At Amazon, our business is naturally aligned to the government’s priorities of enabling skilling and job creation. For us, skilling is not only meaningful but a sustainable and long-term approach. We are deeply invested in creating opportunities for the youth which will help them secure gainful and skilled employment in the future. We are excited to launch the pilot program with 1000 apprentices at our Fulfilment Centres and then scale further with time,” said Swati Rustagi, Director of Human Resources, Amazon India Operations.
“It is encouraging to see large job creators like Amazon furthering our vision to enhance the employability of the youth. We are confident that this apprentice program will help create a skilled workforce which will greatly benefit our communities and the economy,” said Anita Srivastava, Joint Director, Ministry of Skill Development And Entrepreneurship.
Through various initiatives, Amazon has continued to offer skilling and training opportunities to the youth. In September 2019, the company had announced its partnership with Sol’s ARC, an NGO, to train and create employment opportunities for young adults with Autism & Intellectual Disabilities. As it continues to expand its fulfillment infrastructure, the company has consistently worked towards creating work opportunities for the youth and equipping them with technological and operational skills.