LocationsFinancial literacy and soft skills development as a way of self-determination in the labour market
December 12, 2022
From 1 December to 6 December 2022, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the United Nations Development Programme organized and conducted two-day training seminars for women from vulnerable groups in Ferghana, Namangan and Andijan cities.
Uzbekistan is currently undertaking large-scale reforms to protect vulnerable groups, particularly in the areas of the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities, gender equality and the elimination of discrimination and violence against women, improving the competitiveness of their working abilities and skills in the labour market.
In order to develop the abilities and skills of the unemployed population on the labour market, monocentres «Ishga marhamat», vocational training centres and maskans in makhallas were established throughout the country to provide services to the population by organizing training courses, professions in demand in the labour market.
The eighth sustainable development goal of Uzbekistan aims at promoting comprehensive and balanced growth through increased productivity and decent work for men and women. It also aims to significantly reduce the proportion of vulnerable populations and youth who are out of the scope of employment, education or training.
Consequently, the creation of decent jobs is the main issue to be resolved and the main priority of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan today. Solving the problems in this sphere requires establishing links between vulnerable population groups and monocentres «Ishga Marhamat», and training in the required skills taking into account the needs of the labour market.
In order to establish and improve working relations between «Ishga Marhamat», shelters and vulnerable groups, by acquainting women with disabilities, employees and women in shelters, makhallyas, with services provided by monocenters, as well as providing knowledge in the areas of financial literacy and soft skills, which are in demand in the labour market, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations together with the UNDP organized a series of trainings in three monocenters of the Fergana Valley.
The two-day training was attended by more than 150 women from socially vulnerable groups included in the «women’s notebook», survivors of domestic violence, as well as employees of regional employment promotion centres, makhallas and Women’s rehabilitation and adaptation centres. UNDP trainers Alisher Islamov and Lola Razzakova shared with them knowledge of financial literacy, how to develop and apply demanded soft skills in the labour market.
The First Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Erkin Mukhitdinov, confirmed in his welcoming address to the training participants that “one of the important activities of the Ministry is the promotion of employment of women, youth and low-income groups by training them in professions and entrepreneurship based on the requirements of the labour market. Over the last three years, the number of women who have received training in demand professions on the labor market makes more than 210 thousand people”.
As Doina Munteanu, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan, noted, “UNDP will continue supporting initiatives of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, in particular, aimed at meeting the needs of people in obtaining modern skills that are in demand in the labor market, promote decent work, providing effective support through active labour market measures to various groups of the population, including women and youth”.
The participants of the trainings - R. Yuldasheva, O. Kadyrova and D. Jalilova thanked the organizers and trainers for the acquired knowledge, said that they will use the acquired knowledge, skills and methods in their future work with the population.
One of the participants of the training said she was severely depressed and, thanks to classes and exercises at the training, was able to overcome her. These trainings have made her and her family better.
This initiative is implemented within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP «Adaptation of population skills to the post-pandemic economy in the Fergana Valley».
