ILO officials visit Kalmykia and Astrakhan as part of ILO-LUKOIL Youth Employment Project
On 22-26 April 2014 officials of the ILO Moscow Office, Olga Koulaeva and Mikhail Pouchkin, visited the Republic of Kalmykia and the city of Astrakhan.
On 22-26 April 2014 officials of the ILO Moscow Office, Olga Koulaeva and Mikhail Pouchkin, visited the Republic of Kalmykia and the city of Astrakhan. In Kalmykia the objective was to discuss with regional authorities and social partners the situation with youth employment in the Republic, and to achieve agreements with the authorities of Kalmykia on implementation of the Youth Employment Project, conducted by the ILO in partnership with LUKOIL. The Project also helps address one of the key priorities in the ongoing ILO Programme of Cooperation with the Russian Federation – the development of integrated policies of youth employment.
After being received by the Vice-Prime Minister of Kalmykia Larisa Vasilyeva and Minister of Labour and Social Protection Marina Olzyatieva, the ILO officials took part in a meeting where Ministries, social partners, People’s Khural representatives, local authorities and Youth Parliament of Kalmykia were represented. Challenges and opportunities for youth employment in the Republic were thoroughly discussed. Representatives of LUKOIL spoke about economic development and growth in connection with job creation for youth. One of the results of the mission to Kalmykia was an agreement with the Kalmyk authorities to pilot an apprenticeship programme for school graduates in Elista, as well as establishment of local partnerships for youth employment in two districts of the Republic.
In Astrakhan, the ILO officials and Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Protection of Kalmykia Elza Nakhatinova visited the Astrakhan State University and the Technical College. These educational institutions expressed interest in receiving students from Kalmykia. The mission also visited the LUKOIL Training Centre for sea rescue, equipped for high quality training of offshore workers.
“Smooth transition from school to work is still complicated for many young people in the regions of Russia, due to the mismatch between their skills and the employers’ demands. There is still an overproduction of certain occupations, while there is a great need in high-skilled workers. These and other important findings of the mission will contribute to the current work on the Youth Employment Roadmap for the Russian Federation”, says Mikhail Pouchkin, chief technical adviser of the project.
After being received by the Vice-Prime Minister of Kalmykia Larisa Vasilyeva and Minister of Labour and Social Protection Marina Olzyatieva, the ILO officials took part in a meeting where Ministries, social partners, People’s Khural representatives, local authorities and Youth Parliament of Kalmykia were represented. Challenges and opportunities for youth employment in the Republic were thoroughly discussed. Representatives of LUKOIL spoke about economic development and growth in connection with job creation for youth. One of the results of the mission to Kalmykia was an agreement with the Kalmyk authorities to pilot an apprenticeship programme for school graduates in Elista, as well as establishment of local partnerships for youth employment in two districts of the Republic.
In Astrakhan, the ILO officials and Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Protection of Kalmykia Elza Nakhatinova visited the Astrakhan State University and the Technical College. These educational institutions expressed interest in receiving students from Kalmykia. The mission also visited the LUKOIL Training Centre for sea rescue, equipped for high quality training of offshore workers.
“Smooth transition from school to work is still complicated for many young people in the regions of Russia, due to the mismatch between their skills and the employers’ demands. There is still an overproduction of certain occupations, while there is a great need in high-skilled workers. These and other important findings of the mission will contribute to the current work on the Youth Employment Roadmap for the Russian Federation”, says Mikhail Pouchkin, chief technical adviser of the project.