This week was remarkable in terms of two new skilling initiatives - The National Skill Development Corporation joined hands with Tata Motors for collaboration on various skill development programmes in the automotive sector. Secondly, NIIT Institute of Finance Banking and Insurance Training (IFBI), NIIT University and Kotak Mahindra Bank have collaborated to launch a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Relationship Management. The week also witnessed hiring announcements as Precision manufacturing firm Aequs recently said it will hire 400 additional skilled workforce in the next one year to support its aggressive growth and expansion plans. In addition, in preparation to convert itself into a full-fledged bank, IDFC said it will be hiring around 1,500 professionals in the run-up to the launch.

On the employee relations front, threatening to intensify their agitation over low wages and other grievances, the Hindustan Lever Employees Federation recently asked the company to resolve their issues at the earliest or face more industrial unrest. The federation is demanding higher wages. On the other hand, Tata Steel labour representatives, slated to meet chairman Cyrus Mistry later this month, are seeking a commitment from the company to consider possible alternatives put forth by its own experts to the sale of the steelmaker's long products business in Europe.

The significant movements this week – Canon India elevated Executive Vice President Alok Bharadwaj to international operations in Singapore where he would join its headquarters for South East & South Asia business. Kerala cadre 1982-batch IAS officer Aruna Sundarajan took over as the new Bharat Broadband Network Ltd chief. And Designs India Limited (ADIL) appointed Mr. Ganesh Babu as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Ms. Monica Bhandari as Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO). Henkel Adhesive Technologies recently announced the appointment of Mr. Aditya Ahuja as the Head of Human Resources for Henkel in India. International Business Machine Corp named Martin Jetter as senior vice president and head of its global technology services unit. Flipkart announced appointment of Sanjay Baweja as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).