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Ammon News - Minister of Labor: Establishing and promoting training institutes and centers of excellence to achieve international certifications.

* Labor Minister: Sector-specific skills councils create professional standards based on market demands.

Ammon - Minister of Labor Dr. Khaled Al-Bakkar stated that the Jordanian government, following the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Highness the Crown Prince, has overseen the vocational and technical education sector to close the skills gap between educational outcomes and labor market demands by offering assurances and both material and intellectual benefits that prepare young men and women to participate in economic activities aligned with the latest professional skills and standards.

He mentioned that the government, via the Vocational Training Corporation, has established and backed training institutes and centers of excellence to achieve international accreditations. The corporation additionally offers vocational training programs focusing on technical, industrial, craft, and technological subjects that encompass technological methods and function within the realm of artificial intelligence, attracting many young individuals eager to complete training programs that lead to employment.

Al-Bakkar stated that the ministry is working alongside the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Authority, one of its connected institutions, via the sectoral vocational skills councils to establish professional standards that align with the actual demands and needs emerging from the market. This includes creating guidelines for regulating the training process, whether for work-based learning programs or others, ensuring that professional practices are awarded to the trainee and licenses to the training provider based on practical and realistic criteria, achieved through genuine collaboration between the government and the private sector, ultimately contributing to the growth and advancement of the national economy and lowering poverty and unemployment rates.

This occurred at a symposium held by the Arab Labor Organization, sponsored by the Minister of Labor and attended by the Director General of the Organization, Fayez Al-Mutairi, today, Sunday, in Amman, titled "The Significance of Vocational Education and Training in Meeting the Future Requirements of Labor Markets."

The two-day symposium, with the participation of the presidents of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, Eng. Fathi Al-Jaghbir, President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, Khaled Al-Fanatseh, and Farouk Al-Hadidi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labor, will engage in discussions through four dialogue sessions led by experts in education, training, and vocational and technical guidance. They will address the current situation and future possibilities of the technical education and vocational training systems in Arab nations, along with the impact of policies in these areas on meeting future employment needs. The sessions will also cover the digital transformation of technical education and vocational training facilities to stay in line with modern developments.

Minister Al-Bakkar began his address by stating: "Today's gathering occurs in extraordinary conditions, as the Palestinian and Lebanese lands are subjected to barbaric attacks by Israeli brutality, resulting in further chaos and devastation that has significantly affected Arab labor markets and employment matters without evident resolutions."

Al-Bakkar emphasized that both Jordanian and Arab stances advocate for peace and regional security, urging the international community to fulfill its responsibilities, support the rightful owner, and enforce the resolutions of international legitimacy.

He emphasized that Jordan, following the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in collaboration with all allied and friendly nations, continues to fulfill its supportive role for the people of Palestine and Lebanon, striving diligently to halt this aggression and the humanitarian crisis it has triggered.

Consequently, Fayez Al-Mutairi, the Director General of the Arab Labor Organization, stated: "Currently, we are addressing one of the key challenges confronting our Arab nations amid the swift transformations occurring in labor markets and their consequences for fighting poverty and unemployment, as well as ensuring respectable and dignified job opportunities, necessitating a reassessment of how to prepare the workforce in a world experiencing unparalleled technological advancements."

Al-Mutairi emphasized that discussing the advancement of vocational and technical education and training cannot occur without social dialogue and genuine collaboration among the three production parties to attain the intended outcomes. He noted that both employers and workers can play a significant role in shaping training programs to align with the existing and upcoming demands of the labor market and improve skills development strategies.

He highlighted that the primary challenge confronting Arab nations today is digital transformation, as digital skills are now essential rather than optional. Arab labor markets demand greater digital expertise, illustrating the divide between educational and training results and the requirements of employers. Even with significant investments in education and training development, the quality remains below the necessary standard.

Al-Mutairi emphasized the importance of enhancing vocational and technical education and training policies to encompass both technical abilities and personal skills like innovative thinking.

Fayez Al-Mutairi, the Director General of the Arab Organization, awarded the organization's shield to the Minister of Labor, Dr. Khaled Al-Bakkar, in recognition of Jordan's contributions to labor affairs.

It is important to highlight that the primary speakers in the dialogue sessions over the two days of the symposium included the Arab expert in human development and employment, Dr. Khaled Mohammed Al-Jadou, the Arab expert in the same field, Dr. Hussein Shalhoub, and the Arab expert in human development and employment, Dr. Ghada Al-Fayez.