NAITA partners with Holcim Lanka to launch 'Nipunatha Abhisheka'

November 07, 2024

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Development - Provincial

NAITA partners with Holcim Lanka to launch 'Nipunatha Abhisheka'

August 07, 2014

According to the skills development process of the country, the number of housemaids has been reduced from 44 percent to 33 percent this year. "But the number of skilled workforce who went abroad this year has increased. The total number of masons in Sri Lanka is over 0.4 million. But only about 3,000 to 4,000 entered the national skills pool and hence the lost to the local and international job market, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Addressing the media at the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) on Tuesday (05), the minister said around 10 percent of the Sri Lankan population live in foreign countries for employment purposes but nearly 65 percent of them are unskilled workers.

"This work force including both skilled and unskilled workers send about US $ six billion to the country. We are planning to increase it to US $ seven billion by the end of this year," Alahapperuma said.

Under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system any skilled worker will be able to enter the vocational qualification framework by showing their skills. NAITA has partnered with Holcim Lanka to launch Nipunatha Abhisheka, a special social welfare program to produce 500 certified construction professionals, through the granting of a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). (ST/KH)