Gangtok: In a move aimed at expanding overseas job opportunities for young people, the Sikkim government has established a new board to support training and promote ethical foreign employment, officials said on Saturday.
The Foreign Employment and Recruitment Facilitation Board will function under the state’s Skill Development Department and will focus on preparing youth for overseas placements while ensuring fair and transparent recruitment practices.
The board aims to create a robust institutional mechanism to support mobilisation, training and placement of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled youth from Sikkim for overseas employment.
MLA Madan Cintury, who also serves as advisor to the Skill Development Department, will chair the five-member board. The Skill Development Secretary will be one of its members, while another member will be nominated by the state government as a domain expert.
According to a notification issued by Chief Secretary R Telang on February 5, the board will be responsible for framing policies, guidelines and strategies to promote safe, lawful and ethical overseas employment.
It will facilitate international placements through partnerships with empanelled recruitment agencies registered with the Protector General of Emigrants under the Ministry of External Affairs, the notification said.
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The board will coordinate the identification and preparation of prospective candidates by arranging counselling, skills training and foreign language instruction through approved training partners. It will also manage overseas placements and provide migration-related and post-placement support, while working with foreign employers and agencies to organise recruitment drives and formal cooperation agreements.
