Tripartite Meeting on Lifelong Learning in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Industries

Geneva 23-27 September 2002

The mechanical and electrical engineering (MEE) industries cover a wide spectrum of activities ranging from heavy machinery to highly sophisticated electronic equipment, the manufacture of which requires different and varying levels of skill. In fact, according to the WTO "office and telecommunications equipment comprise the hardware component of today's revolution in information technology" and trade in products of the MEE sector has been growing twice as fast as total world trade throughout the 1990s. However, most countries are suffering from skills shortages to varying degrees and at various levels in many segments of the industry that are under pressure from global competition. In addition, the number of job cuts announced by the ICT segment of the industry throughout 2001 were unprecedented.

In 1998, the Tripartite Meeting for the MEE industries adopted conclusions stating that governments should provide sound basic education and regularly adapt curricula and teaching methods so that they remain relevant to the rapidly changing needs of the workplace. The training provided should impart portable skills and be carried out in the context of lifelong learning for long-term careers. There should be tripartite involvement in the definition of training needs, and, where appropriate, in the administration of training programmes.

The purpose of the Meeting was to: exchange views on the need for lifelong learning and training in the MEE industries, and the social and labour implications for the parties concerned, using a report prepared by the Office as a basis for its discussions; to adopt conclusions that include proposals for action by governments, by employers' and workers' organizations at the national level and by the ILO; and to adopt a report on its discussion. The meeting may also adopt resolutions.

The meeting was attended by delegates from 20 interested governments, 20 Employer representatives and 20 Worker representatives appointed by the Governing Body of the ILO after consultations with the respective groups.

A report, entitled Lifelong Learning in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Industries, (pdf , 817k) was prepared by the International Labour Office as the basis for discussion, and the meeting was organized around a series of thematic discussions on the following topics:

1. The economic performance of the MEE industries: 2001 recession and outlook.
2. The social impact of restructuring the MEE industries.
3. Lifelong learning in the MEE industries: Concepts and examples.
4. The right curricula for the various aspects of lifelong learning.
5. The roles of the social partners and governments in lifelong learning and beyond in the MEE industries - Implications for the ILO.

A summary of the information contained in the report is available for download as a PowerPoint presentation, (364k).

The conclusions (pdf , 51k) adopted by the meeting are now available.

The Note on the Proceedings of the meeting is now available (pdf , 197k).

Contact address for more information

Mr Paul Bailey,
Senior Industrial Specialist,
International Labour Office, 4 route des Morillons,
CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 799 6430; Fax. +41 22 799 7967
e-mail: baileyp@ilo.org or sector@ilo.org