Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations
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Participants from five Caribbean countries complete 6-week quality apprenticeship course
A formal apprenticeship system is a critical but under-utilized resource for gaining experience in the workplace and relevant on-the-job training. It is also essential to expand and improve formal long-term skills to create a globally competitive workforce for the Caribbean.
The online course on “Quality Apprenticeships in the Caribbean. A course for capacity building and development of a national programme” was delivered to participants of five Caribbean countries with or working to establish an apprenticeship programme: Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The virtual course was conducted from 11 April 2022 – 20 May 2022 via an online platform managed by ILO/CINTERFOR. It was facilitated by several experts from Germany, Canada and international organizations such as DC dVet and the ILO. ILO specialists provided inputs during the discussions on the future work on each country’s apprenticeship programme including national roadmaps for country development.
Extensive engagement by all twenty-two officials in the platform focused on areas such as:
strengthening the role social partners in improving and developing needs-based apprenticeship programmes;
improvement in regulatory and monitoring systems for skills development; and
investing in the introduction of cutting-edge technology-based teaching and learning resources in training.
According to participants, the course has provided a springboard for renewed efforts to modernize formal apprenticeship policies and will assist in the ongoing national development programmes.
Mark Nicely, participant representative from the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions reflected that; “Outside of the efforts of the National Training Agency in our country, the business of apprenticeship seemed to be dying, both from the point of the prospective employer and the individuals who are seeking to acquire skills. This programme has awakened my own interest and commitment to advancing apprenticeship in Jamaica”.
"Before, I only had a narrow understanding of what an Apprenticeship program was. Participating in this course has given me a wider overview and I have learnt that a true Quality Apprenticeship Program involves the foundation of social dialogue and partnership for it to successfully kick-off! There are many misconceptions out there about QA programs. The reality is that we all need to invest in it, take ownership, understand each other’s roles and responsibilities, for us to experience the impactful results", stated Yorshabell Cattouse, Manager Member Relations, Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Neil Derrick, former apprentice and representative from the Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledged that the course was much more than envisaged and had greatly exceeded expectations. “All the lessons, literature, references, tools and discussions gave very valuable insights into the building blocks of a quality apprenticeship system and how the framework can be used to assess existing apprenticeship and training systems. The development of a roadmap, supported by knowledgeable facilitators, allowed participants to create a document that can be used as an impetus for further discussions and collaboration amongst the partners”.
Gonzalo Graña (in photo insert), an ILO/CINTERFOR Specialist on Quality Apprenticeships and one of the coordinators of the course, highlighted that some of the national groups were tripartite, with representatives from Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, making this capacity-building an interesting exercise of social dialogue in itself. He added that this tripartite nature also added value to the road maps developed, since they count with the participation, support and engagement of the main actors of the world of work.
During the 110th Session of the International Labour Conference, an initial discussion on apprenticeships will take place with a view to the possible adoption of a new international labour standard. It is clearly important that the promotion of apprenticeships and other forms of work-based learning should be consistent with the pursuit of decent work which is the core objective for the ILO.
