ILO court stakeholders on quality apprenticeships

Pretoria-based ILO Skills and Life-long Specialist, Alice Vozza who co-facilitated a three-day stakeholder awareness meeting held on 29 February 2024 in Mangochi district on ILO quality apprenticeships recommendation, 2023 (R208) said: “There is need for more awareness raising at all levels to improve image and attractiveness of quality apprenticeship by highlighting success stories, among others.”
In her remarks, Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), Communications and Projects Officer, Ellen Ziwoya called for continuous social dialogue through various forums to facilitate policy change and foster collaboration.
“There is need for support towards ECAM’s business agenda on the prioritized skills development for youth employment. Employers should understand apprenticeship as a culture one has to pass through to attain relevant skill on the job,” said Ziwoya.
Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) Director of Training Programmes, Modesto Gomani said the meeting had come at the right time when his organization was spearheading the review of the apprenticeship programme.
In a related development, ILO Assistant Director General, Mia Seppo has urged member countries to come up with action plans and report back to ILO on how they are implementing R208 on quality apprenticeships.
Speaking through video link on 29 February, 2024 at the end of the Skills Fair which was held in Turin, Italy, she stressed the need to recognize the importance of specific guidance on financing of apprenticeship programmes in order to set the right incentives and ensure that it is delivered in a manner that leaves no one behind.
The meeting in Mangochi brought together representatives from ECAM, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), TEVETA, Ministry of Labour, ILO Malawi office among others.
Participants also had an opportunity to join virtually the Skills Fair during which member countries deliberated on R208 and shared experiences regarding the delivery of quality apprenticeships in their respective countries.
The Recommendation concerning quality apprenticeship was adopted at the 111th ILO session in Geneva, Switzerland on 16 June 2023.
According to ILO, the Recommendation reflects a strong commitment to take effective measures to prevent and eliminate exploitation, discrimination, violence and harassment against apprentices and to provide adequate and effective remedied.