ProAgro Ethiopia project conducted the third Amhara Region Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting

ProAgro Ethiopia ‘Promotion of Decent Work in Agribusiness’ Project conducted the third Regional Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting in Bahir Dar, Amhara Regional State on 27 July 2023. Arega Kebede, Head, Bureau of Labour and Training, Amhara Regional State, made an opening remark and acknowledged the collaboration with the ILO towards employment creation and skills development of job seekers in the region.

The regional ProAgro Ethiopia project TWG comprises members from Bureau of Labour and Training (BoLT), Bureau of Industry and Investment (BoII), Amhara Industrial Park Development Cooperation, Bureau of Agriculture (BoA), Bureau of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Bureau of Youth and Sport, Amhara Cooperative Agency, Amhara Employers Federation, Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Union (CETU) Amhara Branch, and the ILO.

Anthony Agyenta, Project Manager, ILO ProAgro Ethiopia project, stated that the Project is collaboratively working with different sectors at federal, Amhara, and Sidama regions to create more decent jobs in the agri-business sector. The Project is implemented in partnership with regional BoLT and social partners on employment services, social dialogue, capacity development, and enterprise development.

“The International Labour Organization (ILO) is creating a competitive workforce by building the capacity of workers and job seekers.”

H.E. Arega Kebede, Head, Bureau of Labour and Training (BoLT),
Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

During the meeting project implementation updates, opportunities and challenges were presented and discussed. After having an in-depth discussion the following are some of the major focus areas for the project way forward:

• The need to raise awareness on what Decent Work is, how to ensure Decent Work, the importance of collective bargaining, and to promote the work the region is doing on employment services through continuous discussion and consultation.
• The need to be more proactive in engaging and registering companies, not only registering job seekers and providing training to sustainably create employment opportunities in the functioning of the Regional Employment Services Facilitation Centre (ESFC).
• The need to identify the skill gaps of job seekers and design training packages accordingly in collaboration with regional training institutions.
• Best practices related to decent work e.g. employers that supported the unionization of workers, in the agri-business sector need to be shared.

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