ILO Project Helps Disadvantaged Young People Enter the Labour Market

The ILO supports the Agency for Employment of the Perm Territory, Russian Federation, in improving its package of programmes and services to the population. For that purpose, the ILO pilots wage subsidy programme with mentorship targeting disadvantaged young people.

News | 17 November 2017



The Perm Territory is one of the target regions of the Russian Federation within the ILO Project “Partnerships for Youth Employment in the CIS” implemented by the ILO Moscow with support of the LUKOIL Company.

With the ILO support, a local youth employment partnership was established in Perm Territory (the city of Vereschagino) involving regional authorities, social partners, private companies and educational institutions. This mechanism allows consultations and discussions among various actors who put together their strengths and comparative advantages to address in practical terms the issue of youth employment in the region.
For this initiative, 8 companies and 15 young people who had difficulties in entering the labour market due to different reasons were identified by the employment center. Young women and men have a chance to improve their professional skillssupported by mentors, while employers can strengthen cooperation with the Public Employment Service. Pilot implementation of the programme includes its monitoring and final assessment followed by drawing policy recommendations. This will contribute to strengthening capacities of the PES staff to design and implement active labour market measures, strengthen outreach to employers and offer services to the disadvantaged groups of population.

“We hope that this programme will help young people to develop their capacities and professional skills, and ease their school to work transition”, - said Galina Babich, Head of the Employment Center in Vereschagino.

An important value is added to the pilot by selecting a local coordinator, previously unemployed Alexander Ruchkin, who is a young man with disabilities. “The project is really great, especially for such a small town as Vereschagino where there has been always lack of vacancies, and it was hardly possible to find a job without prior professional experience. Participation in the programme gives a chance to get formal job, social security and an opportunity to show your skills,” he says.