G20 Employment Task Force Looks at Need for Apprenticeships

Two machinists working on machineDeveloping quality internship and apprenticeship opportunities for young people has been a focus of the employment agenda of the G20 under the Mexican presidency. Recommendations by G20 labor and employment ministers in May highlighted the need for the G20 to provide a platform for fostering the sharing best practices in the design and implementation of high-quality internship and apprenticeship programs. Business voiced its full support for such programs to the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, recognizing that implementation will vary from country to country and across business sectors.

At an October 1-2 meeting in Geneva, the G20 Employment Task Force considered key elements of successful apprenticeships, and invited business and other social partners to contribute to the debate. USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg, joined by Brent Wilton, secretary general of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), provided the business perspective, drawing on work pursued jointly with BIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD. Both BIAC and the IOE are part of USCIB’s global network.

Goldberg’s presentation focused on how apprenticeships fits in the context of youth employment, why this issue is a critical opportunity for G20 engagement, and the steps the IOE and BIAC are taking to scale up opportunities for both internships and apprenticeships. She stated that apprenticeship program, while “neither a panacea nor a global solution, …are an important vector for creating employment opportunities and raising skills.” Goldberg applauded the G20 initiative as an opportunity “to demonstrate value by driving forward concrete solutions to address a critical economic and social problem.”

The IOE and BIAC are working with their members around the world to compile a truly representative global picture and perspective on this important topic. Please contact us if you would like additional information on this initiative.

Staff contact: Ronnie Goldberg

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Policy Committee

Staff Contact:   Ronnie Goldberg

Senior Counsel
Tel: 212.703.5057

Ronnie Goldberg advises USCIB’s president and CEO on strategic matters and represents American business at several high-level forums. She currently serves as the U.S. employer representative on the International Labor Organization’s Governing Body, and chairs the BIAC Employment, Labor, and Social Affairs (ELSA) Committee.
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