To promote productive employment as a major route out of poverty and social exclusion
The promotion of productive employment is at the heart of the ILO's contribution to the UN Decade for Poverty Eradication (1997-2006) and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The ILO considers that productive employment is a major route out of poverty and social exclusion. But most economies in the world today are not generating enough employment, and in particular, not enough productive employment. Economic growth is a pre-requisite to employment growth. Making growth pro-poor requires reducing inequalities in access to such assets and productive resources as skills, land and credit.
Skills development: a key element in the promotion of productive employment
As the Conclusions of the 88th General Discussion on Human Resource Development at the ILC 2000 recalled, education and training are a right for all. It is recognized that low levels of literacy, education, and skills are among major constraints to gaining employment or generating income. Therefore, education and training, in addition to being a right for all, can also be considered as a “tool” to contribute to employment creation and poverty reduction. Although training in itself cannot create jobs, it can help people find jobs that are available in the labour market. It can contribute to improving productivity and job quality through reducing occupational hazards and work drudgery. It can widen opportunities for productive self-employment. It can also help people move to higher value production or services, for instance information and communication technology. It can contribute to the empowerment of workers, in particular women and vulnerable groups. Literacy and basic education are the foundation of an individual’s employability. In this connection, the ILO is supporting UNESCO’s efforts by emphasizing the key role of basic education in the context of the discussion of the new Human Resources Development Recommendation.
What kind of skills?
Issues surrounding skills development
|
