Telangana looks to Japan, Germany for skilled worker placements
Telangana is expanding overseas job programs for skilled workers, building on its Germany partnership to include Japan.
Telangana's Labour Minister, G. Vivek Venkataswamy, has outlined plans to broaden overseas employment prospects for the state's skilled workforce, including polytechnic graduates. The initiative builds on an existing partnership with Germany and aims to replicate its success in Japan.
Speaking to the media, the Minister noted that the state's overseas manpower agency, TOMCOM, has already facilitated German language training for youth, leading to jobs in that country. The focus is now shifting to Japan, which faces a manpower shortage due to its aging population. This creates openings for engineers, polytechnic and ITI students, nurses, and drivers. Recent discussions in Japan indicated a demand for around 10,000 bus drivers.
Training programs for Japan will cover not just technical skills but also the Japanese language, work culture, punctuality, and workplace discipline. TOMCOM is expected to forge partnerships with foreign governments, universities, and companies to create safer pathways for overseas employment.
On the domestic front, the government is revising syllabi to align with demand in emerging sectors like semiconductors, robotics, automation, and defence. Students will have the option to pursue additional courses in these areas alongside the existing curriculum.
The Minister also spoke about expanding the network of Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs). With 65 currently operational, another 54 are planned, bringing the total to 119. These centres will offer training in fields such as CNC machining and robotics, with trainees receiving a monthly stipend of ₹2,000.
Addressing concerns about the sale of polytechnic lands, the Minister refuted the allegations, stating that the government has allocated 250 acres for the new ATCs. He asserted there was no question of selling such land.
Further collaborations with Japanese institutions are being explored in areas like advanced manufacturing, AI, electronics, and automation. The government is also looking into bringing Japanese rice-processing technology to Telangana.