Second day in Turin turns focus to protection, mobility and financing of apprentices
“Well-designed and well-regulated apprenticeships leads to decent work.” With those words from the ILO’s Claire la Hovary, day 2 of the Skills Fair on Quality Apprenticeships in Turin, Italy kicked off. Aspect Works Director Jason Petrait was on hand for the sessions.
Much of the morning focused on R208, ILO’s set of recommendations for quality apprenticeships. Many governments don’t enshrine the rights of apprentices into law, with everything from access to retirement, collective bargaining, safety and health training, harassment and dispute resolution not clear when it comes to apprentices. R208 is addressed to States, and intended to rectify these lapses.
The ILO’s Paulo Salvai, was straightforward about the gaps. “In some countries apprenticeship is synonymous with exploitation.” There is cultural prejudice against apprenticeship based on deep history. Bad companies have used apprenticeships to cut labor costs, Salvai said, but there can be positives from apprenticeship now, with increased employability skills for apprentices and higher productivity for companies.
As someone who has worked on apprenticeship in the United States and is now getting a feel for apprenticeship systems across Europe, Aspect Works Director Jason Petrait is in a unique position to offer insight into the similarities and differences across systems.
“Changing the perception of apprenticeship as worthwhile, whether it’s for parents or at companies, is common across the U.S., Europe, and Africa,” said Jason. “Over these first two days I’ve heard the same things I would hear back in the U.S.: mentorship matters, access to information for new apprentices is critical and protecting apprentices in the law, especially in relation to safety, is of paramount importance. It doesn’t matter where you are, those things matter for apprenticeships.”
The morning continued with a technical session on regulatory frameworks, with speakers from France, Uganda and Kenya. The Skills Fair concludes Friday.
