ILO, partners develop roadmap for quality apprenticeships in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS), and tripartite partners, hosted a Social Dialogue meeting in Addis Ababa to create public awareness and advance opportunities for collaboration in the implementation of ILO Recommendation No. 208 on Quality Apprenticeships. The two-day Social Dialogue on Quality apprenticeships held from November 7-8, 2024, convened key stakeholders, including government officials, workers, employers’ organizations, private sector leaders, civil society organizations and training providers.

The Social Dialogue meeting represented a major milestone in the ILO's ongoing mission to promote decent work opportunities and strengthen work-based learning through apprenticeship programs in potential growth sectors of Ethiopia’s economy. Discussions centered on integrating international best practices into local policies to foster a sustainable and inclusive labor market.

Opening the meeting, H.E. Solomon Soka, State Minister of the Ministry of Labour and Skills, praised the collaboration with the ILO, stating, “This partnership will address skill mismatches and drive economic growth in our country.”

While representing ILO, Stephen Opio, Chief Technical Advisor at the ILO CO Addis Ababa, reiterated the organization's dedication to advancing skills development and facilitating youth employability through quality apprenticeships programmes and emphasized the crucial role of private sector engagement in equipping young people with essential workforce skills.

The opening day featured panel discussions and presentations outlining the principles of the ILO’s Quality Apprenticeships Recommendation No. 208.  The national policy framework on Apprenticeships was presented by the Ministry of Labour and Skills (MOLS).  In 2024, the Ministry of Labour and Skills endorsed Apprenticeships Directive which outlines the framework for apprenticeships in Ethiopia. This was influenced by Ethiopia’s participation in an ILO Skills Fair on Quality Apprenticeships in Turin Italy, in February 2024. The Ethiopia delegation that participated in this Skills Fair shared their learning on quality apprenticeships and best practices implemented in other countries. 

Laura Schmid, ILO Skills and Employability Specialist, emphasized the transformative impact of the recommendation on skills development and job creation, underscoring the potential for wide-reaching economic benefits.

Sessions delved into strategies for improving skills development, generating decent job opportunities, and facilitating the transition from learning to earning. Participants highlighted the need for effective collaboration among government stakeholders including the private sector, and education institutions who are central to the successful implementation of apprenticeship programmes. The second day of the meeting focused on interactive roundtable discussions, where experts and stakeholders shared insights and policy recommendations. These conversations yielded practical solutions and a strategic vision for shaping the future of apprenticeships in Ethiopia.  Recommendations included the need to strengthen tripartite partners capacity and effort to design and implement apprenticeship programmes guided by ILO R208. The recommendations also emphasised collaboration and partnerships that enable incorporation of R208 into existing national policy frameworks and new policy initiatives

The meeting concluded with establishing a Tripartite plus Technical Working Group to collaborate with ILO and come up a comprehensive roadmap for implementing Recommendation No. 208. The TWG includes members from Ministry of Labour and Skills, employers' and workers' organizations, GIZ and World Bank among others.

Anthony Agyenta, a Project Manager with ILO’s ProAgro Project working on Agribusiness, emphasized the importance of the Technical Working Group to ensure the tripartite engagement and underscored the role played by the Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS) to lead the quality apprenticeship in collaboration with workers and employers’ organizations.

The ILO will continue supporting its partners in Ethiopia in implementing Recommendation No. 208 by promoting skills development, employment, and embedding these principles into national policies. The event's success lays a strong foundation for future initiatives aimed at empowering Ethiopia’s youth and building a vibrant, inclusive labor market.

The ILO Recommendation 208 was adopted in 2023 by ILO member states as an instrument that aims to influence the legal, social, and economic framework for apprenticeships that provide opportunities for people of all ages – but for young people in particular – to gain skills, reskill, and upskill. 

For ILO, apprenticeship initiatives are a tool to embraces the vision outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Youth Strategy 2030. In this vision, young people, including the most vulnerable and diverse among them, are recognized as a positive force for change, action, and innovation, playing a crucial role in national and local development.

About Recommendation 208 on Quality Apprenticeships 

The Quality Apprenticeships Recommendation, 2023, adopted by the International Labour Organization, emphasizes the need for well-regulated, inclusive, and sustainable apprenticeship programs to address global unemployment, skills mismatches, and the challenges posed by rapid changes in the world of work. It highlights the importance of continuous skilling, reskilling, and upskilling to promote decent work and lifelong learning opportunities. The recommendation calls for apprenticeships to be free from discrimination and exploitation, provide adequate remuneration and social protection, and lead to recognized qualifications. It also underscores the role of social dialogue in ensuring the quality and attractiveness of apprenticeships for both apprentices and employers.