ILO discusses quality and effective apprenticeships

BRUSSELS (ILO News) – At a high-level event organised by the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA), the ILO stressed the importance of quality apprenticeships on a global scale, in light of the adoption of a new Recommendation on Quality Apprenticeships at the 111th International Labour Conference.

The new apprenticeship standard, which was adopted by the governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations from the ILO’s 187 Member States, aims to support opportunities for people of all ages to skill, reskill and upskill continuously in rapidly changing labour markets. It provides a clear definition of apprenticeships and specifies aspirational standards for quality apprenticeships, including rights and protection for apprentices.

In his intervention, Srinivas Reddy, Chief of Skills and Employability at the ILO, highlighted the similarities and differences of the ILO’s new standard and the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships. He explained that both frameworks lead to a recognised qualification and underline the importance of involving the social partners in the design, implementation and governance of apprenticeships.

The ILO framework, however, provides more details related to specific protection measures for apprentices and occupational safety and health, and includes a full section on measures to promote equality, diversity and social inclusion, as well as to prevent and eliminate discrimination, violence, harassment and exploitation.

He stressed that in order to promote quality apprenticeships, it is necessary to create an enabling environment. There is a need to mainstream quality apprenticeships into national strategies, develop a robust regulatory framework and improve the image of quality apprenticeships. Quality apprenticeships should be promoted and regulated, including through social dialogue with a view to enhancing the attractiveness of apprenticeships to both potential apprentices and employers.

The ILO will be developing an Action Plan to promote the implementation of the Recommendation and spread its benefits to apprentices and enterprises in all the regions. The ILO looks forward to scaling up quality apprenticeships in close cooperation with the governments, employers and workers organizations, and networks including the European Alliance for Apprenticeships, the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) and other global, regional and national networks, as well as the UN and other multilateral agencies, regional banks, etc.