In the Dominican Republic, 50 enterprises and associations improve their quality and productivity through SCORE Training

The National Technical and Vocational Training Institute (INFOTEP) has reported the successful conclusion of a programme to implement SCORE Training across the country in more than 50 producing associations and enterprises in the central, northern, southern and eastern regions, in areas of work that included the service sector, graphic arts, agribusiness and manufacturing.

The programme began in 2016 when the tripartite body signed a cooperation agreement with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to implement the methodology aimed at improving working conditions and productivity in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Technical support for the project has been provided by the Science and Technology Centre of Antioquia, Colombia (CTA).

The implementation of SCORE Training in the Dominican Republic began with a pilot project in 2017 in the banana industry in the Northern region of the country. As a result of the success of the processes that were put in place and the results obtained, the scope of the project was expanded to the other regions (central, southern and eastern) and to more sectors of the economy, such as agribusiness, manufacturing, graphic arts and the service sector.

In a period of four years, approximately 50 entities, including producing associations and enterprises, have benefited directly from this programme. This reach was made possible by a three-stage roll-out, developed in line with the structure of the methodology.

In 2020, the process culminated in an ILO technical cooperation project to strengthen the Ministry of Labour to improve working conditions in agriculture, funded by the Department of Labour of the United States of America (USDOL).


The Director General of INFOTEP, Rafael Santos Badía, said, “having assessed the delivery of SCORE Training, we have seen that it has been successful, in that 50 institutions, including enterprises, associations and producers, have benefited directly from this programme”. Santos explained that the delivery of this training, which consisted of eleven modules, is based on a combination of practical training in the classroom and technical assistance in the workplace.

INFOTEP incorporated SCORE Training into the Productivity Support service that is provided to enterprises, and is preparing to expand the offer of services to SMEs.

More detail on the process can be seen in the document INFOTEP: Working to promote competitive, responsible and sustainable enterprises in the Dominican Republic


SCORE: An ILO programme for SMEs

ILO’s Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme improves productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The key intervention of the programme is SCORE Training, which combines practical classroom training with in-factory consulting. The Training demonstrates best international practice in the manufacturing and service sectors and helps SMEs to participate in global supply chains.

SCORE Training focuses on developing cooperative working relations resulting in shared benefits for enterprise owners and those who work there. The SCORE Training modules cover Workplace Cooperation, Quality Management, Clean Production, Human Resource Management, Occupational Safety and Health, Lean Manufacturing, Gender Equality, Responsible Business, Hospitality Coaching and Working Time. Training formats vary, modules usually include a one/two-day classroom training for managers and workers, followed by on-site consultations with industry experts that help to put the training into action in the workplace, some are self-paced online.

Through the SCORE programme, the ILO assists government agencies, training providers, industry associations and trade unions in emerging economies in Africa, Asia and Latin America to offer SCORE Training to enterprises. The programme is managed by a global team based in ILO Country Offices and Headquarters, and financially supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Norway.