Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government will provide skill development training to 50,000 registered construction workers at a cost of ₹48.26 crore, Labour Welfare Minister Mohammed Parvez announced in the Assembly.

Skill centres will be established for construction workers at five government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Annual Chief Minister's Excellence Awards, along with cash prizes, will be presented to winners who secure the first three positions in competitions held at the state and district levels in various trades.

For construction workers travelling to major cities in search of employment, temporary accommodation centres will be established in Chennai and Coimbatore at a cost of ₹14 crore.

Under the Tamil Nadu Construction Workers' Skilled Hands Going Abroad scheme, 1,000 registered construction workers will receive specialised, international-standard skill training to help them secure jobs overseas. The scheme will be implemented at a cost of ₹15.06 crore.

A 50 per cent subsidy, up to ₹75,000, will be provided to 1,000 registered members of the Unorganised Drivers and Automobile Repair Workers Welfare Board to purchase new electric autos. Another 1,000 workers will receive a 50 per cent subsidy, up to ₹30,000, to convert their autos to CNG.

A seven-day skill development programme will be provided to 50,000 workers registered with the Construction Workers Welfare Board in trades such as construction, carpentry, plumbing and painting. The trainees will also receive ₹800 a day as compensation for loss of wages.

Under the ITI Foreign Employment Success Scheme, integrated training will be provided to government ITI students to help them secure employment overseas. The programme will cost ₹7.33 crore.

The minister made the announcements in the Assembly.