Armenian inspectors elevate skills through the final phase of the "Training of Trainers for the Labour Inspectors" initiative

Within the framework of ILO "Promotion of labour rights in Armenia", the final phase of the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course for labour inspectors of the Health and Labour Inspection Body (HLIB) of the Republic of Armenia was held from November 8 to 9, 2023. 

Competitively selected labour inspectors participated in the two-day training in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia, conducted by Helena Perez, ILO International Consultant, teamed up with Edita Hovhannisyan, National Consultant and Coach.

On Day 1, the focus was to nurture the inspector-trainers by providing skills and techniques essential for their role with the help of training experiments tailored to make the course highly relevant to the participants. Day 2 shifted the emphasis to putting what was learned on Day 1 into practice. Participants employed various support methods, showcasing their ability to craft engaging, thought-provoking training experiences and deliver them effectively to relevant audiences, particularly their peer inspectors.

In his opening speech, Nver Sargsyan, ILO Project Coordinator, emphasized the need for a solid knowledge base.

"The PILRAT project aims to train labour inspectors to interact effectively with various stakeholders, including workers, employers, and legal professionals. Trainings like these are indispensable, as they equip the participants with the skills and knowledge needed to enforce labour laws effectively, ensuring fair and safe working conditions while promoting compliance among businesses."

“We emphasize the competencies and skills of HLIB personnel, as their professional proficiency directly influences our effectiveness, role, and reputation. Therefore, continuous, focused, measurable efforts are dedicated to staff training, inspector development, and professional growth. This training program stands out due to its unique format and content. Those chosen from a pool of approximately 30 labour inspectors are expected to assume leadership roles and effectively pass on the knowledge and skills they've gained to their colleagues”, noted Vahagn Grigoryan, Deputy Head of the HLIB.

The first Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course for labour inspectors of the Health and Labour Inspection Body (HLIB) of the Republic of Armenia was held from June 26 to June 30, 2023, in Aghveran, Armenia. Division chiefs and experienced labour inspectors participated in the five-day training conducted in an interactive format. In addition to soft skills such as communication, influencing, interviewing, report-writing, conflict management, decision-making, ethical behavior, presentation/public speaking, facilitation tools and techniques, training preparation, and evaluation, the programme also covered sessions on International Labour Standards (ILS), Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Convention No. 81 guidelines, and gender equality issues.

The ToT programme was conducted in the framework of the ILO development cooperation project "Promoting Implementation of Labour Rights in Armenia Together" (PILRAT). The project is funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDoL).