The technological advancement and competitive environment has made the skilled workforce indispensable for industrial and sustainable economic development said by Gier Thomas Tonstoel, Director, ILO Country Office Islamabad while addressing at the Award Distribution Ceremony of ‘EFP Skills Development Employers Recognition Award 2023′ organized by Employers’ Federation of Pakistan(EFP).
Director, ILO Gier Thomas further said out of total youth population aged 15-29 years of 55.35 million, 19.33 million youth neither enrolled in any school nor have any training for employment which is making them more vulnerable. He added role of employers is significant in providing decent work opportunities to its workforce for enhancing skills through professional training and improving skills at the workplace. He appreciated the EFP efforts and said introducing an Employers Recognition Award on skills development is a unique idea to support government initiatives on Skills Development.
Muhammad Feroz Alam, Board Director and Chairman, EFP-Sub Committee on TVET, Skills Development said the availability of educated and skilled workforce is important for productivity and enterprise competitiveness. He added the low level of skills in the Pakistani workforce is not only a major factor constraining the efforts of poverty reduction and employment creation but also limiting the opportunities of Pakistani industries to compete in the global economy for export of goods / services besides, attracting foreign investment.
Feroz added that equipping youth with right skills as per need of local and international labour market is the best way to address the socio-economic challenges faced to the country. The EFP realizing the importance of skills development has developed EFP Skills Initiatives 2030. This Employers’ Recognition Award on Skills Development and introduction of National Skills Passport are the important initiatives of EFP.
Syed Nazar Ali, Secretary General, EFP explained the process and criteria of evaluation and selection of winning companies. In Diamond Category, Master Changan Motors, Artistic Milliners, Masood Textile Mills, K-Electric, Harbin Electric International O&M, Descon Engineering, Tri-Pack Films, Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Center and in Gold Category, Indus Motor Company, Pak Suzuki Motor, Master Motor, Artistic Denim Mills, US Apparel & Textiles, Lucky Textile Mills, FFBL Power Company, Forward Sports, Bestway Cement, Archroma Pakistan, Agriauto Industries, Pakistan Telecommunication Company, while in Silver Category, Siddiqsons, Tata Textile Mills, Cnergyico Pk, Procon Engineering, PCI Automotive, Shabbir Tiles & Ceramics, Movenpick Hotel Karachi and Chase Up won the awards.