Monitoring ILO's SIYB Programme in Tajikistan

John Bliek met with the Agency of Labour and Employment under the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Tajikistan to discuss an assessment of loan procedures and also non-financial support provided under the SIYB programme to help unemployed citizens of Tajikistan in starting and improving small business enterprises.

The programme has high relevance for Tajikistan where more than 36,200 jobs were lost in the first half of 2016, according to the Presidential Statistics Agency. Job closures and layoffs occurred mostly in agriculture, but also in manufacturing, construction, financial services and other sectors of the country’s economy.

In addition to meetings with the ILO project staff and ILO national coordinator, John Bliek also met with local employers’ organizations to discuss the EESE National Assessment report and followed up on the current situation of entrepreneurs – recipients of loans and SIYB training.