AEPC is keen on tapping the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. "We have written to the planning commission and the proposal is also with the textiles ministry," AEPC chairman Premal Udani said. Training in apparel making could be made part of NREGS for which the industry could contribute Rs 50 per worker per day, initially.
Once the worker is employed the industry would give an amount equivalent to the government’s contribution to the scheme, he said. The government can take a base year for ascertaining the regular workforce in the apparel segment and for incremental jobs created by the industry NREGS funds can be provided , AEPC suggested. Though the industry is not facing labour shortage now, it would face problems once the domestic and export markets start growing at a faster pace, Udani said.