(2) Vocational Training and Industrial Human Resources Development, and Employment Creation
To achieve quality growth in countries and thereby solve the poverty and other problems that these countries face, it is essential for their populations to acquire the necessary vocational skills. In developing countries, however, opportunities to receive quality education and training are limited. Moreover, ineffective use of human resources is stifling opportunities for earning sufficient incomes. A shortage of appropriate human resources thus poses a major obstacle to industrial promotion and industry development.
Especially in countries and regions affected by conflict, improving the livelihood of the socially vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, women, and demobilized soldiers, is a critical issue for the reconstruction phase. In this regard, vocational training as a component of the social safety net (a system in which the entire society secures the lives of each and every person) plays a pivotal role.
“Work” constitutes a fundamental activity of mankind that shapes society. Increasing income by finding a job is an important means for elevating the standard of living of the poor. Nevertheless, severe employment situation is expected to persist, with the number of unemployed in the world reaching approximately 200 million people currently. (Note 3) To create stable employment under these circumstances that will lead to poverty reduction, it is an urgent task to prepare for risks by developing social safety nets, as well as to engage in an international effort across countries to realize “decent work.”
Against this backdrop, the 2030 Agenda, which succeeds the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), was adopted at the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2015. Among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Agenda, Goal 8 was established as follows: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”
<Japan’s Efforts>
| Vocational Training and Industrial Human Resources Development
Based on requests from developing countries to develop human resources who can respond to diverse needs in technology and skills, Japan provides support to leading polytechnic and public vocational training schools which will serve as core centers in each country. In implementing this assistance, Japan, in cooperation with the private sector, supports the capacity building of teachers and trainers, the reinforcement of the operational capacity of training schools, and curriculum improvement, in order to further strengthen the linkages between education and employment. Through 12 projects in eight countries, Japan has contributed to the skills development of persons including women, persons with disabilities, and demobilized soldiers, as well as refugees and persons affected by conflict.
In the area of industrial human resources development, Japan, in collaboration with the industry sector, implemented 55 comprehensive cooperation projects in 27 countries between 2000 and 2016. The projects drew on Japan’s insight and know-how for the development and revision of curriculums and teaching materials, along with the capacity enhancement of trainers. Additionally, Japan supported Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions by improving facilities and equipment at 11 schools in six countries.
In the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting in November 2015, Japan announced the “Industrial Human Resource Development Cooperation Initiative” for boosting the industrial human resources development that would be useful for the sustained growth of Asia. Under the initiative, Japan ascertains human resources development needs through dialogue with each country, strengthens industryacademia- government cooperation, and supports industrial human resources development in the Asia region under the all-Japan approach. For example, in Thailand in March and June 2016 Japan invited people from industry, government, and academia in Japan and Thailand to hold a round-table conference to discuss human resources development needs in Thailand and how to meet them. In addition to this, it had achieved the development of more than 16,000 industrial human resources in ASEAN through technical cooperation, etc. for each country by summer of 2016. Thus, Japan is steadily advancing its efforts. Furthermore, in TICAD VI in August 2016, Prime Minister Abe announced that for a period of three years from 2016 to 2018 Japan would provide assistance in human resources development to approximately 10 million people by making use of the strength of Japan (“Quality”).
Japan is also implementing projects aimed at promoting the economic empowerment of women. For example, in Kyrgyz, with the aim of building a small-scale business promotion model based on the One Village One Product approach, Japan supports the strengthening of organizations and improvement of quality for the production and processing of seasonal locally-produced materials. These materials, such as felt handicrafts, jams, and soaps are made by local women; thereby the support by Japan has contributed in spreading community businesses by women. In the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting in September 2016, Japan announced the launch of the Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund to enhance the social advancement of women, poverty reduction, acceleration of growth, and the creation of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities. This fund was established with the investments from institutional investors of Japan, JICA, and JBIC, to supply funds to small businesses run by women through investment and/or loan to microfinance institutions in Asia, focusing particularly on the members of ASEAN.
Moreover, in order to contribute to creating innovation in both Asia and Japan, Japan will launch a new initiative of ODA (“Innovative Asia” Initiative) to offer opportunities for training (graduate study and internship in Japan), etc. for approximately 1,000 competent students from developing/emerging countries in Asia over five years from FY2017. Aiming to enhance circulation of human resources between Japan and Asian countries, this initiative was endorsed by “Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016” (decided by the Cabinet on June 2, 2016) and also highly appreciated by the ASEAN side at the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting in September 2016.
Chief Advisor, Dr. Hidehiko Kazama, provides instructions on the use of equipment to teachers of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology, at the laboratory wing of the National University of Timor-Leste near Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. (Photo: Kenichiro Komatsu)
Training at the electrical engineering department at the Vocational Training Center in Kosti, Sudan (Photo: Sachio Yamamoto / System Science Consultants Inc.)
As for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), it conducts trainings in Japan and primarily Southeast Asian countries (Note 4) with which Japan has been expanding and deepening economically interdependent relationships. The trainings are designed to transfer the government’s and the private sector’s accumulated knowhow regarding Japan’s skills evaluation system (Japan’s National Trade Skills Test), with a view to developing and securing a quality workforce. (Note 5) In FY2015, a total of 136 people from the seven countries received these trainings, bringing the cumulative total to approximately 2,000 people including trainings conducted in FY2014 and earlier. The trainings are expected to develop and improve skills evaluation systems in these countries, which in turn will promote the development of their skilled workers and elevate their social standing through increased employment opportunities.
In addition, through Japan’s contributions to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the ILO’s Skills and Employability Programme in Asia and the Pacific (SKILLSAP) conducted surveys, studies, seminars, and trainings on vocational training policies, vocational training methods, and vocational training information networks, which were attended by members of governments, employers, and worker organizations in the regional countries.
| Employment Resources Development
Japan considers job creation to be one approach for reducing poverty, which is one of the priorities of Japan’s development cooperation. Based on this consideration, Japan extends assistance to increase job seekers’ abilities to make a living through for instance the aforementioned vocational training. Japan also provides assistance utilizing the ILO for expanding social protection, such as support for building social insurance systems and support for realizing occupational safety and health, with a view to achieving “decent work.”
Moreover, Japan is actively involved in activities through international organizations, for example it provides voluntary funding to the ILO to implement measures to conduct humanitarian assistance in conflict regions in Africa, and plays a large role in the resolution of labor issues in the world.
For example, in Baidoa and Kismayo (Somalia), Japan has created employment through projects to repair roads, markets, and other infrastructure for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees who have repatriated from neighboring countries to facilitate their settlement in Somalia.
- Note 2: Tax treaties: Bilateral treaties for avoiding the double taxation of and preventing the evasion of taxes on income.
- Note 3: Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), “World Employment and Social Outlook 2016”
According to the above report, it is thought that there were more than 197.1 million unemployed people in the world in 2015. Furthermore, it forecasts that this number will reach 199.4 million people in 2016 and 200.5 million people in 2017. - Note 4: Indonesia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Myanmar, India, Cambodia, and Laos.
- Note 5: There are two types of training in this project: “training for people in charge of the creation of test standards and test problems” and “training for people in charge of tests and marking.” The number of participants above is the total value for both of these types of training.