Gaziantep is hosting the Workplace Adaptation Program with Updated Content
4 July 2024
GAZIANTEP (ILO News) - Gaziantep has launched sessions of the Workplace Adaptation Program (WAP) Training, which aims to enhance workplace integration skills among refugee and host community members. The program, also incorporating green jobs, climate change, and fair transition awareness, is being implemented at Shimall Hotel. This initiative is complementary to the Work Based Learning Program (WBL) by the Gaziantep Union of Chamber of Merchants and Craftsmen (GESOB).
Türkiye, hosting approximately 3.6 million refugees, has been offering the Workplace Adaptation Program (WAP) Training to a total of 2,278 employees in Bursa, Gaziantep, Eskişehir, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaraş, Adana, and Mersin since 2019, aiming to strengthen social cohesion and boost productivity in workplaces.
Since its inception, the training has received positive feedback from both employees and employers regarding its impact in workplaces.
The Gaziantep session of WAP held on July 2-3, 2024, brought together 30 participants over two days, featuring expert trainers on workplace integration strategies. The training program covers five main topics: fundamental labor rights, gender equality in the workplace, intercultural effective communication, climate change awareness, and basics of fair transition.
Most participants are from the manufacturing sector, benefitting from practical and foundational knowledge to address workplace issues through this training.
The first day began with an introduction to fundamental concepts and rights in the workplace, followed by discussions on gender equality, discrimination, mobbing, and climate change, facilitated through interactive games to impart essential workplace integration skills.
The second day enriched participants' ability to adapt to the workplace through activities specially designed to enhance their understanding of basic rights and awareness topics in the workplace.
During lunch breaks on both days, participants had opportunities to engage in conversations related to the discussed concepts and to get to know each other better, fostering connections for professional purposes.
The training not only facilitates ISMEP beneficiaries’ workplace integration but also underscores Gaziantep’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth through targeted skills development initiatives. The updated WAP content now incorporates themes such as climate change and just transition through aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants were informed about their attendance in the next WAP session approximately three weeks later, and were advised to utilize their free time to implement a buddy system.
In addition to facilitating workplace integration for WBL beneficiaries, the training has supported skill development initiatives and economic growth efforts specific to Gaziantep province.
The WAP content, enhanced with themes of climate change and fair transition, has aligned more closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals since 2019.
The ILO Office for Türkiye continues to lead the promotion of workplace integration through Workplace Adaptation Program trainings. Knowledge and outcomes derived from these trainings will continue to be shared.
This program is financed by the United States Government.