Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 01, 18 and 21 August 2019 - Three leading organizations on gas industry, milk processing industry and tourism/ hospitality - Gazprom Kyrgyzstan, Milk processing enterprises Union and state-owned agency "Kyrgyztourism" - held working meetings with enterprises of relevant industries.

The main purpose of the meetings was to introduce the concept of occupational standard and its utilization, as well as to present and discuss the drafted occupational standards at a technician level developed with technical support of the ILO implemented project “Applying the G20 Training Strategy: A Partnership of the ILO and the Russian Federation (Phase 2)”.

Participants of all three meetings highlighted that the process is very timely and relevant due to the available challenges in the labour market related to skills mismatches in the sectors (i.e. lack of sufficient skilled workers on technical occupations). Moreover, the developed occupational standards will help to define unified requirements to quality staff training. During the group work employers (gas industry, milk processing, tourism/hospitality) reviewed drafted occupational standards and made relevant comments/ proposals to be addressed by national experts.

The finalized occupational standards will be presented by leading employers at the Sub-regional workshop in October 2019 to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

Note: The occupational standards for each sector are currently being developed under the leadership of two experts (one from educational organization and one from relevant industry sector- this approach enables to ensure active involvement of enterprises).