Applying the G20 Training Strategy in Jordan (Phase 2)

Employers Take the Lead in Qualifications’ Development for TVET

Article | Amman, Jordan | 10 September 2020

Amman, September 10, 2020 - In response to the National Strategy for Human Resource Development (NSHRD) 2016-2020, recent reforms in the TVET sector in Jordan have pushed towards enhancing the relevance of training provision under the leadership of the private sector. The ILO’s Russian funded “Applying the G20 Training Strategy: A partnership of the ILO and the Russian Federation” project (Phase 2) has been involved in improving the functioning and relevance of TVET in sectors that have significant potential to increase economic growth, productivity and employment. Among its activities in Jordan, the project provided technical and financial support for establishing and operating employer-led Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) that are mandated with bridging the gap between training and the skills needs of the labour market under the umbrella of the recently established Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC).

The two sectors of focus that have been supported by the project are (i) The Chemicals and Cosmetics and (ii) The Garment and Leather industries. As part of the technical assistance extended by the project to the established NSSCs, an industry led qualification development workshop took place in Amman on the 30th of August and the 03rd of September 2020.
The objectives of the workshop were to develop a national competency standard for Multi Skilled Sewers in the garment industry, as well as build the capacity of participants in leading the development of occupational standards in their sector. Participants in the workshop were nominated by the Garment & Leather NSSC and primarily comprised of senior technicians and practitioners in garment factories in Jordan.

Upon the guidance of the G&L NSSC, the methodology adopted for the qualification development relied on reviewing existing competency standards for Multi-skilled sewers in other countries, including Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey. The ILO’s team of consultants presented the selected competency standards and participants engaged in localizing and adapting them to the Jordanian context. The ultimate goal of the exercise was to arrive at a national competency standard that draws on international good practices and is also tailored to the needs of the industry in the country. Once finalized, the G&L NSSC will liaise with the TVSDC for endorsing the competency standard that was developed as a national reference for training providers in the field.

The target occupation; multi-skilled sewer, was selected as a pilot based on a comprehensive field research exercise that was previously carried out by the project in close coordination with the G&L NSSC. The study surveyed 229 garment factories and stipulates that there are around

6,871 vacant positions for this occupation. The workshop that was held is a pilot for other technical assistance interventions that will be implemented by the project in the near future to support the development of market-relevant competency standards in both target sectors.

According to The Chairman of the NSSC and Representative of the Garment & Leather sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry Mr. Ihab Al Qadri “developing occupational standards is very important to the Garment & Leather Sector”; he explained that “technical participants at the workshop were trained on developing occupational standards by actively providing their technical insights using real-life methods. He added “I believe that implementing a fundamental basic plan for competencies; will help in reducing the gap between supply and demand in the sector. This will increase the growth of the sector and achieve its desired goals”.