History of Employment Services
After the 2nd World War in 1945, for orderly absorption of released service personnel and other war workers, the need for an organisation to handle this complex problem uniformly was felt. In July 1945, the Directorate General of Resettlement and Employment was set up.
In 1947, after the partition of the country, this Directorate was entrusted with the resettlement of a large number of displaced persons (refugees).
In early 1948, the Employment Exchanges were opened to all categories of applicants, transitioning the Employment Service from a resettlement agency to an all-India placement organisation.
On 1-11-1956, the day-to-day administration of Employment Services was handed over to state governments. The Employment Service became a joint concern of the Central and State Governments, where the Central Government formulates national policies, standards, and procedures to be followed by Employment Exchanges, coordinates work across states, plans expansion programs, conducts training, and performs other necessary functions. State Governments fully control Employment Exchanges in their respective states.
In 1959, the Employment Exchanges Compulsory Notification of Vacancies Act was enacted, effective from 1-5-1960. All public and private sector establishments employing 25 or more workers must notify vacancies and submit quarterly and biennial returns to the local Employment Exchange.
Creation of New Department of Employment Generation
A new Department of Employment Generation and Training was created from the Department of Labour and Employment via Government Notifications dated 11-04-2007 and 31-07-2007 with the following main objectives:
- Develop a vision, strategy, and policy framework for employment generation and training.
- Suggest measures to derive synergy from various departmental plans and programs for employment generation and vocational training.
- Advise on institutional and organizational mechanisms to implement action plans effectively.
- Plan, implement, monitor, and oversee employment generation action plans in the state and advise on future steps.
- Facilitate manpower planning and vocational training across key sectors.
- Identify gaps in service sectors and address them according to market needs.
- Advise on regulatory aspects of job-oriented training policies.
- Support establishment of job-oriented vocational institutions and strengthen existing institutions.
- Harness potential of self-help youth groups and educational organizations.
Functions of the Bureau
- One Stop Platform: Facilitate employment including overseas, skill training, self-employment, and entrepreneurship development.
- Coordinate and Monitor Schemes: Ensure successful implementation of central and state schemes.
- Interface with Job Seekers and Employers: Provide regular interaction via digital and conventional platforms.
- Services to Employers: Understand requirements, register, arrange placement drives and skill training, and ensure legal compliance.
- Services to Job Seekers: Register, counsel, train, and assist with placement and post-placement support.
- Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship: Support youth in starting businesses and provide guidance, mentoring, and bank linkages.
- Overseas Placement: Provide information, counseling, and support for youth seeking overseas employment.
- Coordinate with Educational Institutions: Partner with institutions to provide support for skills, employment, and entrepreneurship.
- Coordinate with Skill Training Agencies: Partner with agencies for skill development of registered youth.
- Facilitate Self Help Groups: Support and coordinate with self-help groups.
- Agriculture Employment: Share latest practices and enable youth to find employment in agriculture and allied sectors.
- Public Funded Schemes: Facilitate implementation of schemes like MNREGA.
- Advertisement Platform: Publicize jobs/vacancies of government departments and organizations.
- Other Functions: Perform any function assigned by state or central government.
Functional Units
- Registration
- Counselling
- Placement & Post Placement
- Skill Development
- Self-Employment & Enterprise Support
- Information, Education & Communication
- Overseas Employment & Emigration
