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VTIs
AND THE INFORMAL ECONOMY>>Experiences
and projects
Argentina
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MTSS)
FORMUJER
Regional Programme
The Programme was executed by the Secretary of Employment and
Labour Training of the National Bureau of Employment and Training
Policies, which created the National Executive Unit, which depends
on the Technical Assistance Office for Employment and Labour Training.
The general objective of FORMUJER was exerting an impact on vocational
training policies and institutions of the country in order to
boost the quality, relevance and gender equality of technical-vocational
training. In such sense, the actions of Argentina Programme were
executed by a number of selected Vocational Training Institutions
which participated in it as beneficiaries.
Plan
Nacional de Regularización del Trabajo (National Plan
of Work Regularisation)
This Plan is a joint action by the MTSS, AFIP (Federal Administration
of Public Income) and labour authorities of provincial governments
with the intervention of the Federal Council of Work. With this
plan, the national Government intends to fight against unregistered
workers; confirm the compliance with labour conditions that guarantee
the fundamental rights of work and due social protection; attain
a higher efficiency in the detection and correction of non-compliances
of labour and social security regulations; achieve the incorporation
of excluded workers into the social security system; manage to
have employers to voluntarily regularise their situation and share
the problems of spread the issue of unregistered employment and
the benefits of regularisation.
Brazil
SEBRAE
Projeto URBE
Sebrae seeks to create an environment that fosters and promotes
business opportunities as a development strategy that aims at
social inclusion and the reduction of inequalities.
By helping with the construction of local networks, the project
URBE suggests a way of organising human and logistic resources
of the land in order to encourage actions that generate sustainable
business opportunities for micro and small enterprises. These
networks imply the coordination and joint action with public administrations,
local actors and other organisations.
Projeto
Desenvolvendo casos de sucesso
Initiated in 2002, according to the strategic instructions given
by SEBRAE System, this project aims at recording and spreading
within the organisation, educational institutions and the society,
the best practices of individual and collective examples of entrepreneurships
observed within the scope of action of SEBRAE and its partners.
The Web site "Casos de Sucesso do SEBRAE" intends
to spread these experiences based on the situations presented
in the cases, as well as their solutions, organised by knowledge
field, region, city council, key-words and contents. It contains
videos, pictures and press releases that help to understand
the scenario where the cases are developed. It offers a manual
with guidelines for trainers, teachers and students about how
to use a case study in class.
It is an experience of craft work performed by the women of
Ticuna, an indigenous community of the state of Amazona (City
Council of Benjamin Constant) which encouraged local development.
The project sought to improve the quality of life of this community
and their income levels by means of sustainable development.
For this purpose, they worked with indigenous craftswomen who
attended training courses provided by SEBRAE on three areas:
trade unions, design and organisation. The project was jointly
implemented jointly by the Benjamin Constant Prefecture, the
organisation of indigenous craftswomen and SEBRAE, who provided
training. Access the publication containing the full case in
pdf format at: http://www.casosdesucesso.sebrae.com.br/upload/casos/102.pdf
In 1999, a group of housewives of the city council of Silves
joined the objective of helping in the sustenance of families
and increasing family income. Therefore, they founded the
"Associação Vida Verde da Amazônia"
which, taking advantage of the traditional knowledge about
aromatic and medicinal plants native of Amazonia, produces
and trades soaps, incense, candles using essential oils of
native species.
The project counted with the support of WWF Brazil - Fundo
Mundial para a Naturaeza, INPA - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa
da Amazônia, UTAM - Instituto de Tecnología do
Amazonas and Sebrae Amazonas. The training provided by Sebrae
focused on the area of entrepreneurship management, courses
on trade unions, product design, price formation, costs, access
to market and trade of products. Access the publication containing
the full case in pdf. format at: http://www.casosdesucesso.sebrae.com.br/upload/casos/13.pdf
In 1997, the crafts market in Rio Grande do Sul was at a
standstill. Craftsmen were isolated, they produced and traded
their products in an informal way. Being a craftsperson was
an alternative form of trade with low production scale and
low technological level which covered a temporary demand.
The lack of concern regarding the design of the product and
the restricted use of raw material contributed to the low
added value generated by this activity.
While looking for new alternatives for local craftspersons,
Sebrae was consulted in order to improve the production process
and the trading of crafts. The process included consultancy
on trade, technologies, marketing, workforce training within
the intervention mechanisms of regional units. As a result
of this project, craftspersons increased their monthly income
200 per cent by means of a better trading and the achievement
of a self-sustained product. Access the publication containing
the full case in pdf format at: http://www.casosdesucesso.sebrae.com.br/upload/casos/8.pdf
The initiatives of trade and industry of this region were
mostly in an informal situation. Although there were favourable
conditions (there were entrepreneurs, a positive atmosphere,
several sectors to be exploited), there were deficiencies
in the assembly and operation of a services network, the offer
of products and social communication. The joint project of
Sebrae and ATUASERRA was based in the rural environment and
it looked for the existing tourism opportunities, agribusiness
and crafts.
Sebrae's action had three main pillars: training, development
and technology. In this way, several core activities were
created according to these areas, as a way of resuming the
culture inherited from the past, generating better business
opportunities for micro entrepreneurs, increasing income levels
and improving the quality of services and products offered,
focusing on regional enterprises. Access the publication containing
the full case in pdf format at:http://www.casosdesucesso.sebrae.com.br/upload/casos/71.pdf
This project with indigenous communities sought to foster
local handcrafts. By training on products' trading, business
management, etc. the communities managed to increase their
participations in the market, not only at a national but also
at an international level, thus improving their income and
quality of life while keeping their historic cultural patterns,
refreshing their language, rituals, etc at the same time.
Access the publication containing the full case in pdf format
at: http://www.casosdesucesso.sebrae.com.br/include/arquivo.aspx/113.pdf
SENAI
Programa
Novos Horizontes
This programme is an initiative of SESI/SENAI that seeks to achieve
social inclusion and the improvement of the quality of life of
youths, as well as the achievement of a better labour insertion
of young people through vocational training
Colombia
SENA
Jóvenes
en acción (Youth in action)
This is a programme of the National Government which aims at improving
the employability and labour and social insertion opportunities
of unemployed youth between 18 and 25 years old who belong to
levels 1 and 2 of SISBEN, by means of training actions for work,
labour training of occupations and labour practice at legally
incorporated enterprises. http://www.sena.edu.co/Portal/Planes+y+Programas/Jovenes+en+accion/Inicio
Costa Rica
INA
The National Training Institute (INA) offers, among its services,
technical advice, technological assistance and training courses
on human, physical and financial resources management.
INA takes part in several centres, and each of these sectors has
a technological unit which provides enterprises with different
alternatives of vocational training, technical assistance, project
development with the purpose of helping them to improve their
quality, productivity and competitiveness.
Núcleo
Procesos Artesanales (Handcraft Processes Centres)
The objective of this centre is to promote the informal sector
of the economy which carries out handcraft, hairdresser's and
beauty activities, by providing them with training alternatives,
technological transfer, project development and responding to
their needs in a flexible, timely and efficient way in order to
improve the quality, productivity and competitiveness.
The objective of this study is to assess the quality and results
of the service delivered by the Training Programme oriented to
low-income women from the point of view of the quality of the
training process, its impact on employability as well as its labour
outcome, as a way of considering the main learnt aspects of this
intervention and eventually correct it.
The objective of this study is to learn the needs of micro entrepreneurs
and independent workers and to create a document to set the grounds
for a tender call of an advertising campaign that promotes the
training demand of the sector. It is a comprehensive study which
aims at qualifying and specifying some of the characteristics
of micro entrepreneurs and independent workers; this research
is not experimental since the phenomenon shall be observed in
its natural context and variables shall not be manipulated.
Ecuador
SECAP
Plan
de capacitación laboral (Labour Training Plan)
This Plan seeks to train delegates for the State, trained to know
their real needs and their contribution to the process as managers
and administrators of community productive projects, for the sake
of its social group and with a favourable cost/investment relationship
for the State.
In order to create self-managed productive units such as microenterprises,
community workshops and production cooperatives, the community
organisation seems essential for the development of their projects
and, as managers of their own productive space, communities must
contribute with an efficient and egalitarian coordination level.
In the technical field, the offer of courses increases and it
is strengthened in order to comply more efficiently and effectively
with the real training requirements demanded by micro entrepreneurs
and marginal communities of the informal sector, SIUR of the country,
through short courses and specific technical assistance.
This document is framed within the project "Design of strategies
for the reform of employment and training systems in Central America
and the Caribbean, classified by gender", sponsored by the
German Cooperation Agency.
The report analyses the characteristics of the labour market and
the relationship with employment; it provides information about
programmes and public policies related to the labour market and
the promotion of employment and it identifies the actors related
to the employment and training system highlighting the exchange
of experiences.
Habilitación
para el Trabajo - HABIL 2005 The Programme aims at assisting unemployed and underemployed
people, from 16 years old on. These programmes are oriented, primarily,
to assist the economically active population who seeks to get
promptly incorporated into the labour market or improve their
family income, by obtaining jobs in existing enterprises or generating
self-employment.
Guatemala
INTECAP
Carta
de entendimiento entre INTECAP y OIT: Proyecto Educación
para el Trabajo, Empleo y Derechos de los pueblos indígenas
(Letter of understanding between INTECAP and ILO: Project: Education
for Labour, Employment and Rights of Indigenous populations)
The Project intends to contribute to the reduction of poverty
and social exclusion of indigenous populations through an integrated
action strategy in the execution of sustainable pilot projects
of economic, social, cultural and educational development, in
an institutional framework which acknowledges and respects the
rights of such population.
The Project involves three subject areas: a) basic education and
education for work; b) employment and income generation with special
emphasis on tourism and eco-business and c) acknowledgement and
respect to indigenous rights.
Haití
National Institute of Vocational Training (INFP)
Demand-based
training programme
The beneficiaries would be young men and women between 15 and
24 years old who are outside the labour market and vulnerable
groups: street children, AIDS patients, etc.
Honduras
INFOP
The agreements settled between this Institution and other entities
are described below:
INFOP / HEIFER International Project
It aims at contributing to the improvement of life conditions
of communities assisted by the counterparties supported by Heifer
International, by means of a training programme oriented to livestock
production according to an agro-ecological approach. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/c_19.asp
INFOP / Nacer Honduras Foundation
This cooperation agreement between the institutions seeks to provide
training to groups of women through dressmaking and beauty workshops,
thus helping them to achieve a better labour insertion. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/c_27.asp
INFOP / GOAL Honduras
This agreement aims at training rural and marginal communities
so that they manage to develop. The projects to be done will be
selected by GOAL and will aim at promoting the improvement of
life conditions of marginal communities through training and certification. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/c_05.asp
INFOP / Teleton Honduras Foundation
This agreement establishes the training of disabled youth on confectionery,
carpentry and house keeping, so that they can acquire special
skills and thus become microentrepreneurs, and attain better labour
insertion. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/c_10.asp
INFOP, Catacamás Council, National Commission for the
development of non-formal alternative education, St. Thomas Church,
and the Lions Club.
The objective of signing this agreement is training people so
that they can generate their own employment alternatives. It offers
training in the following areas: dressmaking, beauty, handcrafts,
basic metal constructions, and IT; as well as information on microenterprises
and human development. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/c_31.asp
INFOP / ILO
Both institutions signed a letter of understanding with the purpose
of strengthening the occupational skills of the inhabitants of
indigenous areas of Santa María del Carbón, San
Esteban Council, Department of Olancho and Montaña de la
Flor, Orica Francisco Morazán. This shall be implemented
according to the potentials of such areas by developing training
programmes and therefore contributing to the promotion of economic
and social development of communities. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/c_32.asp
Apart from these agreements in particular, INFOP has decentralised
units - projects in order to carry out its training actions in
several areas such as: Support Unit to agricultural production
(UAPA), Small Rural Enterprise (PER), Training Centres for the
development of Honduras (CEFEDH), National Centre of Agricultural
Training (CENFA), Popular workshops on training production, Fixed
Centre of industrial production, Training units on handcrafts,
hotels and tourism, entrepreneurial development, food processing
workshop, various industrial workshop, among others. http://www.thepunto.com/infop/unidades.asp
The objective of this document is to describe the main policies
and Jamaican models in order to develop qualifications in the
informal sector and it takes into account the lessons that can
be extracted for future formulation of new training proposals
for this sector. In a second stage, the document focuses on a
HEART Trust/NTA programme supported by ILO.
Peru
Ministry of Labour and Promotion of Employment
Programa de
Autoempleo y Microempresa PRODAME (Self employment and Microenterprise
Programme PRODAME)
It is a programme oriented to promote the generation of job posts
and income through the assistance in the legal incorporation of
SMEs and SME associations; encouraged by simple procedures, reduction
of time and formalization costs enabling the access of SMEs to
entrepreneurial development services, system of purchases of the
State and financial resources of the formal system.
Uruguay
Ministry of Labour and Social Security/National Office of
Employment
Programme
for the promotion of equal opportunities for women on employment
and vocational training - Proimujer The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to
the reinforcement of active employment policies, through the development
of skills that favour the access of women to the labour world
under conditions of equality.
The target population are women living in urban or rural areas
of the country who have lost their jobs or who are seeking one
for the first time or who are in employment situation under restrictions.
Programa
de Capacitación productiva PROCAPRO (Productive Training
Programme)
It has been implemented by DINAE (National Bureau of Employment)
and JUNAE (National Employment Board) with the objective of having
an impact on active employment policies and vocational training.
It is oriented to address the initiatives that, through vocational
training actions, intend to improve the employment situation of
groups with problems in the labour market.
Programa
de capacitación laboral PROCAL (Labour Training Programme)
This programme of DINAE and JUNAE is earmarked to improve the
employability of people with employment difficulties. The training
areas are determined by the articulation between the demand of
unemployed users and the demand of qualified workforce of the
labour market, giving priority to those which have a social or
entrepreneurial value and/or possibilities of self-employment
generation.
The Inter-American Centre for Knowledge Development
in Vocational Training (ILO/Cinterfor)
Avda. Uruguay 1238 - Montevideo - Uruguay - Tel: (5982) 908 6023 - 902 0557
- 908 0545 - Fax: (5982) 902 1305
webmaster@cinterfor.org.uy
Argentina