SYSLAB Center opened in Sumgayit
By Sara Rajabova
The SYSLAB Center was launched in Sumgayit on September 13 within a joint project of "Promoting Employment and Innovation in Azerbaijan" signed between UNDP and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Antonius Broek, with the representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population and the Norwegian Embassy in Azerbaijan, inaugurated the opening of the Center.
Speaking at the event, Broek mentioned the role of SYSLAB Centers in decreasing unemployment in Azerbaijan.
He highlighted their assistance in addressing employment issues in the country and satisfying the needs of both employers and employees.
SYSLAB develops the methodologies that improve job hunting skills, ability to target vacancies fitting to the skills, ability to present themselves and communicate in the way the employers want as well as assist employers to find a candidate who matches with their criteria and needs.
Earlier, the Baku Center SYSLAB was created within the framework of this project. Another branch of SYSLAB Center will be opened in Ganja city in 2014.
UNDP representative Broek called the Government and private sector to take over the funding and expand the SYSLAB's approach to other cities and regions of Azerbaijan.
In 2011, UNDP Azerbaijan initiated this project in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population to promote this innovative methodology developed by SYSLAB, non-profit organization based in Norway.
The Project is co-funded by the Governments of Azerbaijan and Norway and UNDP. The goal of the project is to support the implementation of 2006-2015 National Employment Strategy, and contribute to reduction of unemployment and local/regional business development by providing motivated and competent workforce. Until now, the Center has trained 160 unemployed and approximately 86% of them found a job.