The automobile sector in the State seems to be attracting big investments post-bifurcation, but the lack of skilled workforce is going to be a concern for the government and firms intending to invest here, feels the Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation.
“Being labour-intensive, the automobile companies keen on foraying into the State need to have a pool of workers who can adapt to high technology environment. This is a challenge for both the government and the companies looking for hiring of qualified workers,” said P. Bhaskara Rao, Executive Director of Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation.
The auto sector needs 10 to 15 per cent of skilled workers of their total workforce and they would need training for at least three years before they could be recruited by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and ancillary units, he observed.
The Automotive Skills Development Corporation, functioning under the National Skills Development of Corporation, is to be utilised for improving the skills of workers. Students aspiring for jobs in automobile industry and those already working in the sector have to be put through the training curriculum developed by industry experts.
Supply of unskilled workers is, however, not an issue as there is no dearth of them. In addition to hiring skilled workers, retaining them is a tough task for the companies as most of the workers are migrants. Job security has to be ensured and social infrastructure such hospitals and education institutions have to be readied for them.
Townships close to the auto-parks being envisaged by the government are to be developed for the benefit of those coming from far-off places. These are some of the important recommendations related to the skills of automobile sector workers that the Automotive Component Manufacturers’ Association has made to the government .
Some of them have committed to investing in the State, but big-ticket investments have so far eluded the auto sector in Krishna-Guntur-West Godavari-Prakasam corridor. The growth of hundreds of SMEs in this region is stifled by the absence of OEMs, said Mr. Bhaskara Rao
