ILO forum sheds light on a new generation of skills development policy

As countries prepare to meet future skills challenges, ILO-Korea Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum discussed how skills development policies can contribute to competitiveness and inclusiveness.

Press release | 20 November 2018
The second ILO-Korea TVET Forum contributed to shaping current thinking, agendas and strategies for skills and TVET development as member States prepare to meet future skills challenges.
BANGKOK (ILO News) - Gathered at the 2nd ILO-Korea Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum on skills and the future of work, governments, workers, employers representatives and skills experts from 12 countries in Asia-Pacific discussed how skills strategies can help address the challenges and disruptions facing labour markets in the region.

 “Along with the impact of technology and other megatrends such as climate change, ageing populations and globalization, debates on the future of work often focus on what skills will be needed in the future, how those skills should be acquired and how training providers need to adjust. However, we need to pay greater attention to whether those skills are making a difference in achieving inclusive growth,” said Ms Akiko Sakamoto, Skills Development and Employability Specialist, ILO.

Co-organized by the ILO and the Ministry of Employment and Labour of the Republic of Korea, the two-day Forum provided a platform to discuss skills strategies from a wide a range of  perspectives including inclusiveness and competitiveness, greening the economy, gender gaps, informality, training methodologies among others.

The ILO presented a new publication on Skills and the Future of Work: Strategies for Inclusive Growth in Asia and the Pacific. The book is comprised of 15 chapters that span across a range of skills development issues within the context of the future of work including insights into the impact of skills on working conditions and business models, and how skills can be part of generating quality jobs.

Panelists highlighted the importance of aligning skills strategies with labour market policies that promote decent work. Participants underlined the need of broadening the range of skills and knowledge of workers to so that they are able to adapt and shift careers as the nature of work changes.

In his opening address to the forum Mr Dae-Hwan Kim, Director General of the Ministry of Employment and Labour from the Republic of Korea, noted the importance to “reinforce the role of vocational training as a social safety net against unemployment that arises from changes in the world of work, we need to expand training opportunities for the vulnerable groups most likely to be excluded from technological advances”.

Ms Tomoko Nishimoto, ILO Assistant-Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, underlined social dialogue as key to ensuring a just transition towards smarter, fairer and more sustainable development, Ms Nishimoto also noted that we have a  “collective responsibility to enhance our efforts on skills development within a changing world of work.”

Thailand’s Minister of Labour, H.E Police General Adul Sangsingkaew, also addressed the forum, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to promote decent work that benefits everyone inclusively within the innovation-driven development framework of ‘Thailand 4.0'.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Akiko SAKAMOTO   
Specialist on Skills and Employability
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
sakamoto@ilo.org