Asia and the Pacific

Regional model competency standards: Garment work

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Document

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Regional model competency standards: Garment work

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The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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skpILO

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ilo

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Sectoral approaches

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Matching skills to labour market demand requires reliable sectoral and occupational information and institutions that connect employers with training providers. Sector based strategies and institutions have proved effective in engaging all stakeholders in promoting both pre-employment training and life-long learning.

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skpSectApr

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sectoral-approaches

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International standards

International conventions and recommendations and other international instruments on human resource and skills development. Strategy papers on the practical application of international standards from international organizations covering issues related to training, effective utilization and development of skills, and on linking skills to employment.

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skpISSP

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international-standards

Publication Date:

29 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_182481.pdf

Garment production is an important source of income for Asian economies. Figures for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Vietnam show the garment industries contributes respectively 79 per cent, 52 per cent, 43 per cent, 17 per cent, 12 per cent of total exports. Significantly the garment industry also offers low-skilled jobs for many women in the lower-income countries of the region.

Increasingly, industry buyers are seeking to purchase a full service, from design to stock delivery, to shorten lead times and lower costs for customers. Countries where workers are mainly low skilled are unable to meet these demands. As the garment industry continues to achieve higher productivity, it is likely that many of the traditional, low-skill jobs held mostly by women will be lost. There will be a need for either new opportunities for employment or up-skilling of workers to meet changing requirements.

To help accelerate the improvement of training systems and the mutual recognition of skills, the ILO has developed – in consultation with employers, governments, and workers – the Regional Model Competency Standards (RMCS). These have been developed in identified priority areas, and are in a simplified format.

The RMCS are intended to be a regional reference for developing competency standards for thosecountries that are in the process of creating standards, or reviewing existing national standards. The RMCS can provide the basis for developing national competency standards so that certain countries can avoid having to develop standards from scratch.

Subject Tags:

Competency based training

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competency-based-training

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671

Competency standards

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competency-standards

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642

Sectoral approaches

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sectoral-approaches

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676

Regions:

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Investing in youth: Australia

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Document

Content Type:

Investing in youth: Australia

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English

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english

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skpEng

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Information is gathered from other international organizations that promote skills development and the transition from education and training to work. The Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IAG-TVET) was established in 2009 to share research findings, coordinate joint research endeavours, and improve collaboration among organizations working at the international and national levels.

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skpIntOrg

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international-organizations

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Youth employability

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Globally, nearly 68 million young women and men are looking for and available for work, and an estimated 123 million young people are working but living in poverty. The number who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) stands at 267 million, a majority of whom are young women. Significantly, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed.

Skills development is a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. A comprehensive approach is required to integrate young women and men in the labour market, including relevant and quality skills training, labour market information, career guidance and employment services, recognition of prior learning, incorporating entrepreneurship with training and effective skills forecasting. Improved basic education and core work skills are particularly important to enable youth to engage in lifelong learning as well as transition to the labour market.

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skpYoEmp

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youth-employability

Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues.

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skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

15 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_181696.pdf

The present report on Australia is part of the series on 'Investing in Youth', which builds on the expertise of the OECD on youth employment, social support and skills. This series covers both OECD countries and countries in the process of accession to the OECD, as well as some emerging economies. The report provides a detailed diagnosis of youth policies in the area of education, training, social and employment policies. Its main focus is on disengaged or at-risk of disengaged youth.

DOI: 10.1787/9789264257498-en

Subject Tags:

Poverty alleviation

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poverty-alleviation

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149

Youth

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youth

Identifier

319

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

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Countries and territories:

Australia

National policy on skill development and entrepreneurship 2015

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Document

Content Type:

National policy on skill development and entrepreneurship 2015

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English

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english

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skpEng

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Governments

Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment

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skpGov

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governments

Topics:

Access to training

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Access for all to good quality education, vocational training and workplace learning is a fundamental principle of social cohesion and economic growth. Some groups of people may require targeted attention if they are to benefit from education, training and employment opportunities.

This is particularly the case for disadvantaged youth, lower skilled workers, people with disabilities, and people in rural communities. The attractiveness of vocational education and training is enhanced when combined with entrepreneurship training and when public policies encourage utilization of higher skills by business.

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skpATSU

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access-to-training

Knowledge Products:

National policies and initiatives

National legislation, policies and initiatives on the issue of training and skills development and the world of work.

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skpNatPol

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national-policies-and-initiatives

Publication Date:

15 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_181698.pdf

The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015 supersedes the policy of 2009. This policy aims to meet the challenge of skilling at scale with speed, standard (quality) and sustainability. It aims to provide an umbrella framework to all skilling activities being carried out within India, to align them to common standards and link skilling with demand centres. In addition to laying down the objectives and expected outcomes, the policy also identifies the overall institutional framework which will act as a vehicle to reach the expected outcomes. The policy links skills development to improved employability and productivity in paving the way forward for inclusive growth in the country. The skill strategy is complemented by specific efforts to promote entrepreneurship in order to create ample opportunities for the skilled workforce.

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Entrepreneurship

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entrepreneurship

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182

Financing training

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financing-training

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673

Skills and training policy

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skills-and-training-policy

Identifier

666

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

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Countries and territories:

India

Skills and activity upgrading in global value chains: Trends and drivers for Asia

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Document

Content Type:

															 Skills and activity upgrading in global value chains: Trends and drivers for Asia
													

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English

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english

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skpEng

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Other sources

Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.

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skpOSource

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other-sources

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Anticipating and matching skills needs

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Anticipating and building skills for the future is essential to a rapidly changing labour market. This applies to changes in the types and levels of skills needed as well as in occupational and technical areas. Effective methods to anticipate future skills needs and avoid potential mismatches include: sustained dialogue between employers and trainers, coordination across government institutions, labour market information systems, employment services and performance reviews of training institutions.

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skpAFSN

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anticipating-and-matching-skills-needs

Knowledge Products:

Research papers

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skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

14 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_181694.pdf

This paper examines the trends in skill and activity upgrading in global value chains (GVCs) and the drivers of upgrading in Asian economies. It uses the newly constructed Asian Development Bank Multi-Region Input Output Tables as well as occupation data on jobs by educational attainment and business activities, namely research and development; production; logistics, sales, and marketing; administration and back-office; and headquarter activities. Results suggest an ongoing specialization process in high income Asian countries and in developing member countries (DMCs) toward high-skilled knowledge intensive activities. The pace of upgrading differs across Asian countries, being more rapid and encompassing in the People’s Republic of China in comparison to other DMCs.

Subject Tags:

Human resources development

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human-resources-development

Identifier

118

Skills anticipation

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skills-anticipation

Identifier

677

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

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Regional model competency standards: Agriculture and aquaculture

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Document

Content Type:

Regional model competency standards: Agriculture and aquaculture

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English

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english

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skpEng

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ILO

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skpILO

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ilo

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Rural employment

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Eight out of 10 of the world’s working poor who live on US $1.25 per day live in rural areas, where many are caught in vulnerable employment, especially in agriculture.Flourishing rural areas are vital to regional and national development. Yet, rural economies tend to face a wide range of challenges that urban areas are more likely to overcome. These include access to transportation, sanitation and health services, and a consumer base in close proximity to support small and medium enterprise development. Women and men working in rural areas also face difficulties associated with a paucity of economic opportunities, under investment, poor infrastructure and public services, including education, and, in many cases, weak governance and underdeveloped markets.

Education, entrepreneurship, and physical and social infrastructure all play an important role in developing rural regions. Skills are central to improving employability and livelihood opportunities, reducing poverty, enhancing productivity and promoting environmentally sustainable development.

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skpREmpl

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rural-employment

Sectoral approaches

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skpSectApr

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sectoral-approaches

Knowledge Products:

Other knowledge products

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skpOProduct

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other-knowledge-products

Research papers

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Identifier

skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

13 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_181681.pdf

National competency standards play an important and increasing role in skills development and recognition in Asia and the Pacific, as they do in many other parts of the world. They are a guide to the range of skills and knowledge required for a whole industry. Competency standards can be flexibly combined into jobs and occupations. They are the common basis for training programmes, skills assessment, and certification in many countries.

Competency standards, when recognized nationally or across a cluster of nations, can form a key component in assisting the mobility of skilled workers. As part of a quality assured system, the assessment of a person’s skills against accepted benchmarks means that those skills can be applied in similar work, and potential employers can feel confident in the level of competency that a worker claims to have. Workers returning from employment in other countries can have the skills they gained working there formally recognized at home. The Regional Model Competency Standards for agriculture and aquaculture constitute a set of benchmarks that define the skills, knowledge and attributes required to perform a work role in the field of agriculture and aquaculture.

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Agribusiness

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agribusiness

Identifier

223

Agriculture

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agriculture

Identifier

225

Competency based training

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competency-based-training

Identifier

671

Competency standards

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competency-standards

Identifier

642

Skills and training policy

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skills-and-training-policy

Identifier

666

Skills recognition

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skills-recognition

Identifier

656

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

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Learning knowledge and skills for agriculture to improve rural livelihoods

Type:

Document

Content Type:

Learning knowledge and skills for agriculture to improve rural livelihoods

Language:

English

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english

Identifier

skpEng

Sources:

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skpIntOrg

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international-organizations

Topics:

Rural employment

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skpREmpl

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rural-employment

Knowledge Products:

Case studies and good practices

Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice.

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Identifier

skpCaseStdy

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case-studies-and-good-practices

Research papers

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Identifier

skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

13 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_181691.pdf

This publication is a synthesis report of three country studies conducted in the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, within the framework of the research project on ‘Learning Knowledge and Skills for Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods’ (2012–2014) jointly designed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The main aim of the IFAD-UNESCO research project was to contribute to understanding about the kind of education and learning opportunities needed to address the currently high levels of youth unemployment in rural areas, as well as rural poverty and food security

Subject Tags:

Agriculture

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agriculture

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225

Poverty alleviation

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poverty-alleviation

Identifier

149

Rural development

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rural-development

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152

Youth unemployment

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youth-unemployment

Identifier

622

Regions:

Africa

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Asia and the Pacific

Region Image

Countries and territories:

Cambodia

Egypt

Ethiopia

Bangladesh: Looking beyond garments - Employment diagnostic study

Type:

Document

Content Type:

Bangladesh: Looking beyond garments - Employment diagnostic study

Language:

English

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english

Identifier

skpEng

Sources:

ILO

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Identifier

skpILO

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ilo

Other sources

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skpOSource

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other-sources

Topics:

Career guidance and employment services

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Career guidance and counselling, career education and lifelong development of skills for employability are key for success in learning activities, effective career transitions, livelihood planning, entrepreneurship and in increasing labour market participation. They are instrumental in promoting skills utilization, recognition (RPL), as well as in improving enterprise human resource management.

Career development activities encompass a wide variety of support activities including career information and advice, counselling, work exposure (e.g. job shadowing, work experience periods), assessment, coaching, mentoring, professional networking, advocacy, basic and employability skills training (curricular and non-curricular) and entrepreneurship training. It is often an area which is fragmented across different ministries (e.g. education, TVET, employment, youth) requiring an effort to achieve the necessary coordination to provide adequate support to individuals during learning, employment and unemployment/inactivity periods.

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skpLMIES

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career-guidance-and-employment-services

Sectoral approaches

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skpSectApr

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sectoral-approaches

Knowledge Products:

Research papers

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Identifier

skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

12 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_181481.pdf

While increasing employment opportunities benefits the poor, it is essential to shift workers to more highly productive sectors through structural economic transformation.

Economic growth in Bangladesh, above 6% in most years since the 2000s, has been on the fast track since the 1990s. Not many developing countries, especially the least developed, have been able to achieve this consistently for such a long period. Yet despite the jobs generated in the export-oriented readymade garment industry, the fruits of growth have not been widely shared.

This joint study by the Asian Development Bank and the International Labour Organization examines the nature and magnitude of the employment challenge Bangladesh faces. It looks at the nature of productive employment and its role in transmitting the benefits of growth into incomes for the poor, thus reducing poverty. It also examines the importance of overseas employment, changing gender roles in employment in Bangladesh, quality of education, and skills development.

Subject Tags:

Skills and training policy

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skills-and-training-policy

Identifier

666

Skills mismatch

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skills-mismatch

Identifier

654

Women

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women

Identifier

318

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

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Countries and territories:

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a strong track record of growth and development, even in times of elevated global uncertainty. A robust demographic dividend, strong ready-made garment exports, resilient remittance inflows, and stable macroeconomic conditions have supported rapid economic growth over the past two decades. A strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continued in FY22, although a recent surge in commodity prices has presented new headwinds.

Bangladesh reached lower-middle income status in 2015. It is on track to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries list in 2026. Poverty declined from 43.5 percent in 1991 to 14.3 percent in 2016, based on the international poverty line of $1.90 a day (1).

Like many of its Asian neighbours, Bangladesh faces a major challenge trying to develop modern, employability skills for tens of millions of young women and men. It has a large informal sector, which accounts for 94.7 percent of the total employment in 2017 (2). Youth continue to be highly affected by the lack of opportunities, with the share of youth aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training (NEET), estimated at 27.8 percent in 2020 (3).

TVET has a huge role to play in equipping the vast young labour force of 15-29 years referred to as the country’s “demographic dividend” with employability skills and providing enhanced support services to ensure a better transition from school to work. TVET may also contribute to reducing poverty by providing employability skills, particularly to those who drop out of school early and to a large number of unemployed and underemployed adults.

Despite many reform initiatives by the government, the TVET sector needs further strengthening through reform of policies and systems in the labour market. Enhancing industry-relevance of TVET qualifications will furthermore require closer Government cooperation with the private sector. For one and a half decade, the ILO has worked closely with the Government of Bangladesh and its Social Partners to reform the TVET sector and to improve access for people to increase their skills and employability, in particular youth, women and people from other marginalized groups.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had detrimental effects on the TVET sector, due to the nation-wide closure of all educational institutes for one and a half years, starting on 17 March 2020. Most students’ learning was effectively abolished for this duration, and learning and certification was only possible through limited online learning facilities in existence at the time. Only recently has the TVET returned to its prior activity level.

The ILO landmark programmes aim to strengthen and improve the environment for industry skills development, address the mismatch between the supply and demand for skills training, and drive the increased employability of millions of young women and men. ILO’s support to develop the skills system in Bangladesh has focused on skills system governance, development of skills policies and qualifications frameworks; delivery of quality skills training, expanding access to TVET, and involvement by the private sector.

Sources

(1) https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/bangladesh/overview

(2) https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/informality/

(3) https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/youth/

Country Assessment and Priority (CAP) – Bangladesh strategy for skills and lifelong learning (2022)

Situation Analysis of Bangladesh TVET Sector (2019) https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—asia/—ro-bangkok/—ilo-dhaka/documents/publication/wcms_735704.pdf_

It’s not about age - Pathways for engagement in employing mature age people and existing workers as apprentices: An employer perspective

Type:

Document

Content Type:

															It’s not about age - Pathways for engagement in employing mature age people and existing workers as apprentices: An employer perspective
													

Language:

English

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english

Identifier

skpEng

Sources:

Employers' organizations

Employers invest in training in order to improve productivity, innovate and adopt new technologies, and compete in changing markets. Case studies and research from individual employers and associations of employers on the Global KSP deal with apprenticeship and workplace skills provision, quality assurance and governance of training institutions, and employers’ roles in anticipating skill needs and in influencing national and sector policies on skills development.

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skpEmp

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employers-organizations

Topics:

Older workers

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Identifier

skpOldwor

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older-workers

Knowledge Products:

Research papers

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Identifier

skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

01 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_180896.pdf

Future competitiveness in the skilled workforce will rest partly on the performance and productivity of ageing workforces and, therefore, on the efficient utilisation of older workers. While there are cyclical pressures on the labour market that create fluctuations in the supply of labour, in the long term Australia must maximise the numbers of skilled working age people in the workforce. To that end, this study examines options that actively encourage the engagement of mature age and existing workers in apprenticeships.

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Apprenticeships

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apprenticeships

Identifier

639

Skills re-training

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skills-re-training

Identifier

655

Skills upgrading

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skills-upgrading

Identifier

657

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

Region Image

Countries and territories:

Australia

Focus on skills: Building a better national VET system

Type:

Document

Content Type:

Focus on skills: Building a better national VET system

Language:

English

Slug

english

Identifier

skpEng

Sources:

Employers' organizations

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Identifier

skpEmp

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employers-organizations

Topics:

Training quality and relevance

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Identifier

skpTrainQR

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training-quality-and-relevance

Knowledge Products:

Research papers

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Identifier

skpRPS

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research-papers

Publication Date:

01 Sep 2016

Open

wcmstest4_180895.pdf

Australia needs a robust vocational education and training (VET) sector capable of delivering quality outcomes that meet the skills needs of industry, and boost workforce participation and social engagement. Within that context, this Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's position paper addresses the future of VET in the context of Federation Reform and presents a case for change.

Subject Tags:

TVET systems

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tvet-systems

Identifier

661

Vocational training

Slug

vocational-training

Identifier

124

Regions:

Asia and the Pacific

Region Image

Countries and territories:

Australia

Photo slideshow: Connecting Nepalese Job Seekers to the Labour Market – The LIfE Project

Type:

Document

Content Type:

															Photo slideshow: Connecting Nepalese Job Seekers to the Labour Market – The LIfE Project
													

Language:

English

Slug

english

Identifier

skpEng

Sources:

ILO

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Identifier

skpILO

Slug

ilo

Other sources

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Identifier

skpOSource

Slug

other-sources

Topics:

Career guidance and employment services

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Identifier

skpLMIES

Slug

career-guidance-and-employment-services

Rural employment

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Identifier

skpREmpl

Slug

rural-employment

Knowledge Products:

Promotional material

Presentations, discussion papers, meeting reports, promotional materials, videos, fact sheets, brochures and newsletters on skills development for employment.

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Identifier

skpAIM

Slug

promotional-material

Publication Date:

22 Aug 2016

Open

wcmstest4_180481.htm

Implementing the ILO/G20 Training Strategy for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth The Labour Market Information and Employment Services (LIfE) project aims to support the Government of Nepal in strengthening public employment service centres to provide improved access to basic information and services that can help job seekers, in particular youth, make well-informed choices about education, training, and employment. The project also focuses on establishing a jobs portal and a labour market information analysis system to better match the requirements of employers and job seekers. LIfE is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and executed by the International Labour Organization in collaboration with collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Department of Labour of Nepal.

To date, more than 500 women and men have been assisted through the project. This photo album illustrates how LIfE is helping to improve employment services effectiveness and support to Nepalese job seekers. Some personal stories are highlighted in the narratives accompanying the following photographs.

Subject Tags: