Ms. Jacqueline Mugo, Executive Director & CEO, Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), officially inaugurated the Sector Skills Training at Fairview Hotel, Nairobi on 14th May 2024. Organized by the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) in partnership with FKE, the training aims to enable stakeholders to understand the rationale for establishing Sector Skills Bodies and map best practices while addressing funding and coordination issues.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Dr. Wanjiru Kariuki, representing Mr. Shadrack Mwadime, Principal Secretary State Department for Labour & Skills Development, Mr. Paulo Salvai, ILO Program Director in Turin, Italy; Mr. Gary Rynhart, Senior Employers Specialist, ILO Pretoria; Ms. Maria Machailo-Ellis, Senior Employers Specialist, ILO Pretoria; Ms. Alice Vozza, Skills and Lifelong Learning Specialist, ILO Pretoria; Tadiwanashe Dube, ILO Consultant; and Mr. Douglas Opio, Executive Director, Federation of Uganda Employers, among others. In her opening remarks, Ms. Mugo highlighted the rapid transformation in the labor sector, particularly due to technological advancements. She noted that these innovations have revolutionized business operations and are central to the future of work. Ms. Mugo emphasized that FKE has been advocating for a conducive environment where enterprises can thrive and generate employment. She underscored the importance of skills development in aligning with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) decent work agenda, a priority area for FKE.
Ms. Mugo shared that, with ILO's support, FKE has built a skilled pool of industrial relations practitioners and established a global network of partners, enabling the Federation to tackle labor market challenges effectively. FKE has been a strong voice for employers, advocating for a skills development approach that incorporates the needs of employers as key partners within a tripartite framework, involving employers, training institutions, and workers. She pointed out that FKE regularly conducts skills surveys and publishes reports highlighting persistent skills gaps in the Kenyan labor market. Addressing these gaps requires a multi-sectoral approach, and FKE has been leveraging partnerships with like-minded stakeholders to develop and implement policies to bridge these gaps. The training follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between FKE and ITCILO on May 13, 2024, to launch the International Postgraduate Certificate in Industrial Relations in Kenya. Ms. Mugo described this initiative as a significant step forward. With the support of ILO and its global expertise, Kenyan employers have a unique opportunity to learn from the best international standards within a tailored domestic framework.
FKE remains committed to supporting this partnership as a catalyst for sustainable skills development in Kenya.