India's Apprentice Program - A True Game Changer in Lean Manufacturing

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Going "Beyond Compliance"; at Dr. Reddy's is a value we strive for everyday. Over two decades we have continuously committed to skill building, continuing education, and sustainable employability. Our Self Managed Teams (SMT) today operate at 95% retention with more than 90% completing sponsored Bachelors degrees. More than 75% apprentice are successfully employed at our sites on completion of one year of training. Consequently, our apprentice pool in Manufacturing is at 5% against the statutory requirement of 2.5% of the workforce.

Government Benefits

The Apprenticeship Act Amendment 2015 and The Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council of India (LSSSDC) under aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship have pioneered outstanding schemes such as NAPS, NATS & BITP. LSSSDC is the ONLY sector skill council working in Life Sciences domain from "bench to clinic" stage. These schemes provide a generous basket of financial support and incentives, offsetting training costs and boosting program efficiency.

A lesser known fact is a key legislation promulgated in March 2020 (For more details, you can refer to the legislation here.) that allows Industries and establishments with more than 30 employees to utilize CSR funding to cover expenses of skill training for apprentices. The eligibility can range from above 2.5% to a maximum of 15% of the workforce.

Organizational Impact

We have seen significant improvements, including higher internal fill rates and reduced time-to-fill for entry-level positions. This strategy enhances our talent pipeline and supports our corporate social responsibility goals.

Individual and National Benefits

Apprentices gain valuable skills and employment opportunities. Nationally, the program bridges the skills gap, drives economic development, and promotes workforce inclusion.

Why Apprenticeship Programs?

India’s vast youth population of 248 million contrasts sharply with the 1 million skilled for industry demands. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories is at the forefront of leveraging apprenticeships through Leadership by example in this critical space.

Skill building

The Act introduces Optional Trades and Designated Trades, enabling industries to create tailored apprenticeship programs while meeting National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) standards.

Dr. Reddy’s Approach: Five Core Principles

1. Core Technical Skills Foundation: We provide and hire apprentices with a strong technical base and educational foundation, essential for their success and industry contribution.
2. Female Diversity: We ensure gender diversity, creating an inclusive environment that benefits from diverse perspectives.
3. People with Disabilities: Inclusion is integral to our approach. By integrating individuals with disabilities, we enrich our workplace with varied experiences.
4. Economically Backward Sections: We focus on talent from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them skills and career opportunities that promote socio-economic mobility.
5. Community Inclusion: Our program includes diverse community representation, ensuring a broad spectrum of voices within our workforce.

My heartfelt gratitude to our Leaders, capable warriors and our partners who make this happen everyday. Chekkapalli Satish Kumar Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Anshul S. Sarosh Kayomurs Gandhi Jagannathan V Geeta Jadhav CIEL HR

#ApprenticeshipPrograms, #SkillBuilding, #LeanManufacturing, #NAPS, #NATS, #CSR

#WorkforceDevelopment, #DiversityInclusion, #TechnicalSkills, #TalentPipeline

#EconomicDevelopment, #SkillDevelopment, #CorporateSocialResponsibility

#DrReddys, #FutureOfWork

Note: My subsequent note will highlight our flagship Self Managed Teams (SMT) program which goes beyond skill building to charting a Leadership journey.