The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), Department of Labour (DoL), Nepal and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are organizing a Capacity Development Training on Counselling and Employer Services (CDT-CES) for the staff of public Employment Services Centres (ESCs), partner organizations and other stakeholders of the ‘Labour Market Information and Employment Services (LIfE) Project from 29 August to 2 September 2016. The project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The training on employment services covers topics such as determining service needs, understanding job seekers, career counselling, vocational training and employer needs.

The participants were from fourteen ESCs, MoLE, DoL, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI), trade unions, Nepal Administrative Staff Collage (NASC), Training Institute for Technical Instruction (TITI), Microsoft Innovation Centre Nepal (MIC Nepal), Career Disha Nepal, Balaju School of Engineering and Technology.

Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Jiwan Kumar Rai, Under Secretary, MoLE welcomed  the delegates and shared the importance of these capacity building programmes linking with the first capacity development training on employment services.

Mr. Saurav Ram Joshi, National Project Coordinator, briefed about the project, which was planned during Seoul Multi Year Action plan in 2013 to support low-income countries in building Human Resources Development (HRD) pillar based on the G20 training strategy within one of the building blocks ‘Labour Market Information and Employment Services’. He added that the technical assistance provides DoL/ESCs for quality improvement in employment services through client orientation and capacity building. The capacity development training on counselling and employer service is one of the six capacity development programmes planned during the project period.

Ms. Donna Koeltz, Senior Employment Specialist shared the overall capacity development programme information on counselling and employer services, and use of various delivering strategies including role play, group works, field visit and panel discussions. 

Dr. Kim Hyungkyoo, Country Director, KOICA Nepal thanked ILO, MoLE, DoL in organizing the capacity development training to officials from government and partner organization of LIfE Project. He stated that KOICA focuses in the area of HRD and looks forward to working together with the Government of Nepal and ILO.

Mr Richard Howard, Director, ILO expressed his appreciation to MoLE and KOICA Nepal in supporting to the key initiatives on quality improvement on Labour Market Information and Employment Services. He stressed the importance of ESCs to improve job matching and ultimately employment of youth and disadvantaged groups.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Barun Kumar Jha, Acting Director General, Department of Labour shared how the whole concept of ESC and the activities were initiated six years ago. He noted that there are some problems in effective use of employment services and communication. However, such services can be improved with effective coordination among partner organizations and donor agencies.  He urged for the effective use of learning during capacity development programmes, thanked the participants and delegates and expressed success of the training.

The opening session was facilitated by Er Raj Kumar Khadka, Officer, DoL, who is also a core member of the Project Management Unit, LIfE Project.