Measures to transform the workforce’s training system are demanded

The Forum TransFormación: skills for productivity, using a survey created by the Dane with the support of IDB, came to the conclusion that workforce does not possess the competences the the private sector demands.

According to IDB, the disconnection that exist in formation for employments is one of the reasons which led Colombia to have the second lowest labor productivity level in Latin America during 2013, with 11.26 dollars per hour worked. Brazil was last in the ranking, with 10.78 dollars per hour worked. Low productivity undermines the economy’s competitiveness in these countries.

David Rosas, IDB labor markets’ specialist, explains that in order to improve the situation it becomes necessary to adopt measures that transform the workforce’s training system. This process must be done involving the production sector, as it is not an issue that only concerns the State.

An action that might change the situation is ILO’s Convention no.181 ratification on private employment agencies, aiming to achieve that both, public employment services and private employment agencies, work together in employment training programs oriented towards each community labor demand.