Skills & related training issues

The impact of globalization on employment and working conditions by categories of countries in specific sectors is partly determined by differences in skill levels. Training for MEE workers therefore has varying objectives and priorities. In the higher-income countries where the risk of employment loss is greater, priority tends to go to evaluating and renegotiating retraining schemes for (a) redeployment within specific enterprises and related businesses, and (b) new jobs in other enterprises/sectors. In the middle-income countries with good prospects for MEE employment growth, higher priority is given to reshaping vocational and on-the-job training schemes for the upgrading and differentiation of products. In the low-income countries, the key issues are to create or improve vocational training schemes for technical skills and attitudes through effective linkages with on-the-job training programmes.

The ILO has carried out assessments of training needs and provided assistance to member States in the development of vocational training systems, in-plant training, and apprenticeships and other training schemes directed towards young workers in the MEE sector, taking into account conclusions Nos. 98 and 72 of the Metal Trades Committee.