The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is committed to making decent work for young people a reality, Eric Oechslin director of the ILO in Cairo said on Monday during a workshop organised by ILO entitled "Pathways to Employment: What works, what does not, and how can we innovate?" He stated that the workshop will foster cooperation in examining the need of advisory services related to the development of employment programmes, saying that the event creates an excellent opportunity for networking and establishing a sustainable network of partner and stakeholder organisations. He also explained that this is the general approach of the ILO, providing advice and technical assistance on employment to national and development partners in Egypt, as well as providing youth with access to employment opportunities that provide them with a decent wage, job security, and good working conditions. The workshop discussed current labour market trends, ILO global programmes to support youth transition to the labour market, current opportunities to explore technical assistance needs in overcoming challenges and barriers, while sharing examples of interesting practice, developing practical solutions in planning, and setting up better wage employment schemes. Nashwa Belal, Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO project, Egypt Youth Employment project, said that "Pathways to Employment" will bring together key actors to set up new and manage existing employment schemes. Belal also stated that such an event offers reflections and recommendations on how different schemes presented can be merged and integrated. Participants in the workshop included the government and in particular those in charge of employment and education policies; private sector; civil societies; and developmental projects.
