Certificates for Jordanians and Syrians signal important step in response to Syria refugee crisis
Certificates awarded to participants for completing ILO-supported programme designed to boost job prospects for refugees and host communities in construction sector.
Amman, Jordan (ILO News) A ceremony was held in Amman on Tuesday (January 24) awarding Jordanians and Syrians working in the construction sector certificates, following the completion of an ILO-supported Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
Certificates were given to the 120 workers that took part in the month-long programme, aimed at upgrading their professional expertise and helping Syrian refugees formalize their employment status in the country.
Maha Kattaa, the ILO coordinator for the Syrian Refugee Response in Jordan, said it was an important development. “Receiving a certificate that formally accredits Jordanian and refugee workers nationwide is unprecedented and we hope this will facilitate Syrian refugees in applying for work permits, which in return will allow them to work legally and freely in Jordan,” she said.
Recognition of Prior Learning formally recognizes the skills and knowledge that a person has gained while working, often in the informal economy.
Some 1,900 Jordanians and Syrian refugees have so far completed the programme, which the ILO is implementing in collaboration with the National Employment and Training (NET) Company. Courses include practical and theoretical training in floor layering, painting, plastering and plumbing. There are coaching and monitoring visits conducted by the trainers to provide feedback to trainees on the technical aspects of the occupation. The skills of the workers are also assessed on site. The programme culminates in a written test conducted by the Jordan Centre of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (CAQA). It also provides a service matching job seekers with employers.
@ ILO “I hope this certificate will help me obtain a work permit,” said Syrian Hassan Musab Rahmoon, who has been working in construction since moving to Jordan in 2012. “I want to be able to work legally and freely in Jordan. I want to be able to find more regular work.”
For Jordanian Marwan Mohammad Khattab, who does not require a work permit, the programme was an opportunity to upgrade his skills and improve his job prospects. “I have been working in construction for many years and my work is good, but this certificate, which is accredited nationally, will help me find better work opportunities in construction.”
As part of the wider UN response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the ILO has adopted a development-focused and employment-driven strategy to support host communities and refugees in order to strengthen social and economic stability in governorates that welcome refugees.
In Jordan, where official figures put the total number of Syrians at 1.3 million, the ILO is expanding its work in the construction and agricultural sectors as part of efforts to formalize the employment status of Syrian refugees and improve employment opportunities for Jordanians in local communities hosting the refugees.
While the first 120 participants who were awarded certificates in Tuesday’s ceremony were funded by the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA), which is supported by several governments, the programme has been expanded to include another 2,500 participants, through a UK-funded project.
@ ILO"It is great to see the London Syria Conference outcomes in action. The UK is proud to be supporting Syrian refugees, as well as many Jordanians, in a programme that helps them rebuild their lives and find work legally,” said a UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson.
RBSA allows development partners to provide un-earmarked core funding to the ILO to help increase its capacity to deliver and achieve results at country level.
“Norway has a clear policy to support decent work for all,” said a representative from the Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN in Geneva. ”We are happy to see that RBSA funds are contributing to long-term development in Jordan. ILO plays an important role in promoting labour rights and social dialogue worldwide.”
Over recent years, the ILO has used a significant tranche of its RBSA funding to launch activities targeting both Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan. These include advocating for the government to facilitate Syrian refugees’ access to work and livelihoods through giving them work permits in specified sectors in line with Jordanian labour regulations and enhancing employment opportunities and livelihoods in Jordanian communities hosting Syrian refugees. The ILO also helped draft three-year local economic development plans for Irbid and Mafraq aimed at generating employment in various industries. Pilot projects were implemented in employment intensive programmes, aimed at generating jobs, while improving infrastructure. The work included maintenance and rehabilitation of roads, as well as improvement of farmers’ lands in areas most affected by the Syrian refugee influx.
Note to editors
The following media features highlight RBSA-funded intervention to the ILO’s Syrian Refugee Response:
