Issues relating to skill and training acquisition amongst workers are once again up front and significant efforts are underway to bring entrepreneurs together with training providers to ensure that vocational training avoid the frequent trap of becoming rigid, unimaginative and out of date. The World Employment Report (ILO 2004) has expressed concerns in terms of upgrading of existing clusters of small firms to fit in with the contemporary world scenario; increased productivity and its interface with training and skills; need for acquisition of different/appropriate set of skills with technological moves and policy prescription. Traditionally the domain of the State, of late, discussions on skill formation have looked at ways in which closer partnerships between the State and enterprises can be forged on the basis of shared responsibility and mutual support. Based on collaborative IDPAD project, the paper provides overall skill profiles of men and women in India and in the firms of Delhi and Chennai. This is followed by the existing provisions available for training in these firms, particularly for women. The paper also looks at employers’ responses as to how they see their own role in skill formation and training and other related issues. Finally, it is contended that contrary to situations in some industrialized countries, given the nature of Indian firms, their hiring practices and market peculiarities, lower end workers, particularly women are precariously positioned in terms of acquiring skills and training through their employers. Obliquely, the paper also addresses the debates surrounding the role of government and private sectors in ensuring workers’ enhanced/better employability though skill formation and training. © 2007, SAGE Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.
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