Hosted at the International Labour Organisation’s campus in Turin, the day saw apprenticeship leaders from around the world share their insights.

The day led off with a panel hosted by Pilvi Torsit of the ETF, who stated that the goal is to, “create decent jobs so people can have decent lives.” As she remarked, this sounds simple but ends up being complex.

Much of the discussion focused on the ILO’s Quality Apprenticeship Recommendations from last year, with speakers sharing that employers have signed on to the recommendations, committing to measure their progress towards quality apprenticeships.

Luis Claudino de Oliveira from Portugal’s Ministry of Labour provided insight into the recommendations from the point of view of a government agency, differentiating apprenticeship from work-based learning and clarifying the responsibilities of employers and the rights of apprentices. It’s a, “tangible approach to rights, entitlements and protections,” in apprenticeship and a, “clear contributor to the aims of social justice.”

With attendees in person from over 50 countries, including Aspect Works Director Jason Petrait, and over 1000 attendees online, the day saw speakers from around the world, many of them education ministry staffers, share their experiences with apprenticeship.

In an afternoon breakout session, a leader from Cote d’Ivoire highlighted the need for credit for prior learning, pointing out that many apprentices already have skills that are being recognized or certified.

The Fair continues Thursday and Friday.