Bangladesh commits to Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth

Bangladesh commits to Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. Photo: UNB
Bangladesh commits to Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. Photo: UNB

Bangladesh has pledged to boost digital workforce opportunities and to train 250,000 Bangladeshi youth on ‘future' skills through its Access to Information (a2i) programme, reports UNB.

It also promised to support 340,200 quality apprenticeships by 2023. a2i is the flagship programme of the government's digital agenda.

“The government of Bangladesh is proud to be the first in Asia and the Pacific to commit to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth,” said Anir Chowdhury, policy advisor of a2i - Innovate for All.

At the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, during a side event on 'Decent Jobs for Youth: Working together in Asia and the Pacific', he invited other governments to join.

At Thursday's event in Bangkok, a2i - Innovate for All announced its commitments to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.

Decent Jobs for Youth is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, social partners, the private sector, youth and civil society organisations to scale up action and impact on youth employment worldwide, according to ILO press release.

"Each year, more than two million young Bangladeshi men and women enter the labour market, in desperate need of decent jobs and livelihoods", said Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of ILO Bangladesh.

"Our experience shows that supporting youth in their school-to-work transition, using industry-led apprenticeships and offering the latest digital skills training will help Bangladesh's young people better prepare for the jobs of the 21st Century. We applaud this new partnership and look forward to working with the government, employers' organisations and young trainees to make it a long-term success."

The commitments by a2i align with the priority for skills development in Bangladesh.

Following the training on multiple digital skills, the link to employment opportunities for trained youth will be facilitated by the government, the private sector, development partners and NGOs.

The quality apprenticeship programme for young people requires key industrial partners to equip apprentices with practical, on-the-job skills.

The a2i programme's commitments to Decent Jobs for Youth builds on a multi-sectoral partnership, with a2i as the main implementing partner, and support and investment coming from the private sector and other development partners.

The focus on demand-driven skills is critical to meet the needs of local and international job markets, and to equip youth with the right skills for 21st century employment opportunities.

Digital Skills for Jobs

The commitment by a2i is aligned with Decent Jobs for Youth's thematic priority on digital jobs for youth, which is focused on preparing youth for the future of work in the digital economy.

In this context, the commitment contributes to the Digital Skills for Jobs campaign initiated by the ITU and ILO.