Within the framework of its Public Employment Services Capacity Building Programme (PES-CaB) and in line with the Executive Programme for the Implementation of OIC Framework for Cooperation on Labour, Employment and Social Protection, SESRIC, in collaboration with the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), organized a training workshop on “Institutional Capacity Building for Effective Labour Market Information Systems” on 01-04 February 2021, in a virtual-only format. The training workshop gathered 83 participants from public employment agencies/ authorities and relevant national institutions of 22 OIC member countries to discuss how to establish effective labour market information systems in their respective countries.

The workshop aimed to provide participants with a sound understanding of employment statistics, which is the main variable used to monitor and evaluate the demand side of the labor market and reporting processes. It also gave insights into Labour Market Research (LMR) in general and specifically explored how to take the “pulse” and monitor the trend of the labor market. Moreover, the Workshop served as a platform for public employment agencies to share their experience on data collection processes, the use of technological and physical infrastructure to support their capacity of statistics production and analysis, and the role of this infrastructure in labor market information systems.

The workshop commenced with the opening statement by H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General of SESRIC. During his speech, H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR stressed on the importance of the Labour Market Information Systems in designing, implementing and monitoring employment and labour policies in the OIC member countries. In addition, H.E. Mr. DABUR briefed the audience regarding the previous activities of SESRIC implemented in the field of public employment services in particular the OIC Public Employment Services Network (OIC-PESNET) and ongoing preparations made by SESRIC and İŞKUR towards the organization of the 3th meeting of this important Network in 2021.  

H.E. Mr. Bekir AKTÜRK, Director General of Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) also addressed the participants in the opening session and emphasized the importance of close cooperation among the OIC member countries in the field of public employment services in order to develop the institutional and human capacities and enhance knowledge exchange and sharing of good practices in this field. Furthermore, Mr. AKTÜRK highlighted adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour markets all around the world including Islamic countries and stated that Labour Market Information Systems occupies a very crucial place on the agenda of the public employment agencies to build resilient public employment systems.

Over the course of four days, the training workshop was conducted by competent experts from İŞKUR, a national body with the objectives of protecting, improving, generalizing employment and preventing unemployment, and executing unemployment insurance services in Turkey.

This training workshop was designed in line with the virtual training solutions undertaken by SESRIC to better serve the Centre’s training activities and keep participants motivated and engaged during this difficult time of the global crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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