According to UN statistics, young people aged 15 to 24 years account for 16% of the global population. The active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies by the target date, and to averting the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration.

Therefore, at the plenary meeting on December 18, 2014, the United Nations decided to designate July 15 every year as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD). This event is significant as it highlights the global focus on skill development for youth. To date, WYSD has become a traditional festival focused on the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for decent work and an entrepreneurial spirit. WYSD aims to raise awareness of the importance of investing in youth skills as a means of promoting employment and sustainable development by reducing barriers to access the world of work, ensuring skills are recognized, certified, and providing skill development opportunities.

Accordingly, each year WYSD sets a theme to achieve its goals. In 2024, the theme of WYSD is “Youth skills for peace and development”. This theme emphasizes the important role of young people in efforts to build peace and resolve conflicts.

The world today faces a multitude of challenges, many of which directly impact youth. Violent conflicts disrupt education and stability, polarized online environments promote negativity, and persistent economic inequality limits opportunities. These issues threaten not only individual futures but also the overall stability of society. It is crucial to equip youth with the necessary skills to promote a culture of peace, nurture responsible global citizens, and drive sustainable development to build a more just, inclusive and sustainable future for all.

As a member of the United Nations, Vietnam has also actively participated in activities to achieve the goals of WYSD. President Ho Chi Minh always had a special focus on youth and the training and cultivation of the younger generation. He affirmed: “If you want to awaken the nation, you must awaken the youth, for the youth is an important part of the nation. The prosperity or poverty, weakness or power of a country are largely attributed to the youth. Young people are the future masters of the country.”

 In response to World Youth Skills Day 2024, the Vietnam Elevator Association, in coordination with the Directorate of Vocational Education, organized the “Youth Skills for Peace and Development” program, which took place on the morning of July 15, 2024, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Elevator Association.

The World Youth Skills Day 2024 campaign with the theme “Youth Skills for Peace and Development”

The forum was chaired by the Directorate of Vocational Education, with representatives from associations, training institutions, enterprises, workers, and students who participated in the discussions.

With the spirit of “Improving the country through the power of vocational skills,” the discussion focused on the current situation, orientation, and solutions to promote the improvement of vocational skills for workers, and create favorable conditions for education, training, and employment opportunities for students and youth.

Associate Professor, PhD. Nguyen Thi Viet Huong – Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education, Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, delivered the opening remarks to launch the Program

According to the 2020 Report of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Vietnam’s labor productivity lags behind Japan by 60 years, Malaysia by 40 years, and Thailand by 10 years. In 2022, each Vietnamese worker generated 188 million VND per person per year, which is only 11.4% of Singapore’s labor productivity level, 35.4% of Malaysia’s, 64.8% of Thailand’s, and 79% of Indonesia’s.

One of the reasons cited is the issue of workers’ qualifications and skills. The current state of labor supply quality is still inadequate and limited, unable to meet the demands of a modern, flexible, sustainable, and integrated labor market.

As of Q2 2024, the proportion of workers with degrees or certificates is 28.1%. There are still 37.8 million untrained workers nationwide. Meanwhile, the government’s target through the Labor Market Development Support Program is to have 35-40% of the workforce with degrees or certificates by 2030. This figure shows a significant challenge in improving the technical and professional skills of workers. Many occupations and sectors still lack proper measurement tools or systems for skill assessment and certification.

Mr. Pham Van Son – Senior Expert at The Department for Science, Education and Cultural-Social Affairs of Government Office shared remarks at the launching event

For the elevator industry, the Vietnam Elevator Association has introduced a set of industry-standard elevator standards: Occupational Skill Standards and Labor Norms Standards. The Occupational Skill Standards focus on the required knowledge and skills of the elevator industry workforce in operation and maintenance. The Labor Norms Standards focus on the specific tasks involved in elevator maintenance and repair, including time norms and personnel skill requirements.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Duc – Chairman of the Vietnam Elevator Association shared about the projects and activities aimed at developing the skills and capabilities of workers in the elevator industry

Along with the spirit of promoting skill development, honoring the values, people, and beauty of the job performed by elevator personnel , the Vietnam Elevator Association has chosen July 16th each year as the official anniversary of the elevator industry, called “Vietnam Lift Day”.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hai Duc, Chairman of the Vietnam Elevator Association, elevators are group-2 consumer products with the potential to pose health risks to users, and elevator technology is a dangerous, hazardous, and technically complex profession.

However, society and the community have not paid proper attention to elevator workers – the profession of the transportation mode with the highest productivity globally, with 325 million passenger trips on elevators every day, and it only takes 3 days for elevators to transport the entire world’s population. In addition, elevator technology is also a backbone profession that meets the circulation needs of the country’s urbanization process.

Therefore, Vietnam Lift Day will be an occasion to spread the message about the meaning, role, and value of the elevator engineering profession, its influence, and its ability to contribute to society. At the same time, this is also an opportunity for those in the industry to recognize the importance of professional ethics and skills in serving society. From there, to build a sense of pride and passion for the elevator profession among youth and students.

The delegates took a commemorative photo at the launching event for the 2024 World Youth Skills Day program