LAHORE: Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh has declared that around 369,000 students have registered with the world’s sixth and Pakistan’s first online Skilled Labour Market Information System (SLMIS) in just three years. He added that SLMIS is playing its role in eliminating unemployment from Punjab, as well as providing job opportunities to youngsters.
During a meeting of TEVTA officials regarding performance of SLMIS here on Tuesday, Sheikh stated that the SLMIS launched three years ago in 2015, and that so far SLMIS has facilitated thousands of TEVTA pass-outs, who not only got jobs in Pakistani market but also in foreign countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
He said that three years ago, there were several online job portals, but none of them were focusing on imparting technical and vocational education to the youth. After taking a thorough view of these portals, it was decided that a portal should be established which could fulfil the needs of youngsters who have technical and vocational education, he added.
Irfan went on saying that since its inception; SLMIS has not only provided jobs information but also guided students regarding employers and provided other job related information. He said that through this portal they can know the jobs available in technical and vocational sector while sitting anywhere in the world. This was especially developed for the youngsters belonging to rural areas, he added.
Sheikh said that in just three years, apart from registering over 369,000 students — SLMIS has also registered around 35,000 employers who are providing and updating their jobs at the portal. These employers not only local — but several international employers are also updating their jobs in this portal.
Talking about SLMIS he said that TEVTA pass-outs can now submit their particulars for SLMIS developed by TEVTA Punjab. He elaborated that this information system is providing key information on Punjab’s labour market; including market trends, skill training opportunities in different trades and technologies, data of outgoing students and job seekers, as well as vacancies for technical persons in the industry. He added that at present the UK, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka are all using labour market information systems.
Sheikh added that the facility provides free registration to aid skilled young people seeking jobs and that SLMIS are being operated and maintained at the TEVTA Secretariat. The labour market information of all of Punjab is consolidated at TEVTA secretariat in coordination with its district level offices. He assured everyone at the event that the training of the SLMIS staff had been comprehensive and that operational instructions had been issued to field offices.
Published in Daily Times, March 28th 2018.