Opinion Express View on Indian workers: Fill the skill gap

Early this year, the first batch of workers from India left for Israel to plug the labour shortage in its construction sector that arose after a ban on Palestinian workers. Now, an investigation in this paper has revealed that this labour arrangement is under strain due to a glaring skill mismatch between the workers’ abilities and the expectations of them. Some of these workers have now returned home, while others have been redeployed to other sectors considering the strengthening ties between the two countries. The evidence of the mismatch, however, does not take away from the benefits for Indian labour that stem from such work agreements. In fact, pacts that facilitate labour mobility between countries need to be advanced, while, at the same time, plugging the gaps such as those that the investigation has uncovered.

Indian labour, both unskilled and skilled, will be increasingly in demand across the world, especially in regions characterised by an aging workforce and labour shortages. In 2020, the Global Skill Gap report prepared by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) had estimated the demand for labour in sectors across key regions such as the GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council) and the EU. The sectors it identified — construction, trade, health and social care, among others — are indicative of the sources of labour demand across the world. Some in the western world are now advocating for temporary work contracts to meet the labour shortages. But in order for Indian workers to productively engage in the global labour market, it is critical that they receive the necessary education and training in the skills that are needed. As per the labour force survey, only a small segment of those in the age group of 15-59 years have received formal vocational/technical training. The NSDC can play a critical role here. The focus should be on the entire ecosystem, encompassing the technical and training institutes, the trainers, and also the curriculum, among others, in order to ensure that the skills imparted are in line with what the market demands. Perhaps the Sri Lankan approach of ensuring that workers receive a few weeks of additional training before their departure can be considered, as well as exposing them to international processes and work practices.

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The issue of skill mismatch, of shortage of skilled workers despite a huge labour force, has often been highlighted. In fact, several Indian firms have raised this matter in the past with regard to jobs across the entire skill spectrum. Considering that an educated and skilled work force is critical for reaping the demographic dividend, the focus should be on ensuring that those entering the labour market receive appropriate training, and that their skills are constantly upgraded to adapt to an ever changing work environment.