Activation Policies for the Poor in OIC Member States
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Outside of OIC Member States, impact assessments of activation indicate a link between employment
and poverty alleviation. The activation tools reported as being most effective include wage supplements
and minimum wages.50 However, these studies, if based on activation in countries such as the UK are
less relevant to OIC Member States, particularly low income countries. This is because one of the key
challenges in countries such as the UK, which offer relatively generous social assistance, entails
encouraging individuals to take up employment despite the provision of social assistance. In OIC
Member States which do not have developed social assistance, the challenge is not to encourage
individuals to move into employment, but to ensure they can do so, and that the employment is of good
quality.
This section provides an overview of job creation, skills training and job search support across OIC
Member States. Where appropriate, examples from Member States are highlighted.
2.2.1 Job search support
This activation tool refers to matching jobseekers with employment opportunities and is typically
undertaken by countries’ PES. The development of the PES and associated services available varies
significantly between income groupings.
High income Member States
High income countries are the most likely of OIC Member States to have more comprehensive job
search support. High income countries, due to the amount of investment they can provide in
developing job search support services, are also exploring the outsourcing of job search support
services to companies, some of whom have international experience of job search support provision.
However, the efforts being made by these countries to promote employment in the private sector
also mean that employers are actively seeking out jobseekers.
In Qatar, for example, the Ministry of Labour and the Qatar Foundation for Education host an annual
Qatar Career Fair. The event brings together jobseekers and employers and students are offered
advice on education, recruitment and training opportunities. However, in larger high income
Member States, events as a form of job search support may be less appropriate due the difficulties
jobseekers could have in accessing them. In these cases, online platforms are required to assist
jobseekers who cannot access careers fairs or public employment offices. Saudi Arabia, for example,
is investing in this form of activation. There is little, if any, evidence available evaluating the impact
of job search support on poverty alleviation in high income Member States. This may be due to the
countries’ high income status, meaning that there is less of a focus on poverty.
Upper-middle income Member States
Several upper-middle income Member States continue to develop their PES and several of these
countries have relatively comprehensive systems with access to substantial labour market
information.
One tool which appears to be suitable for upper-middle income OIC Member States (as it has been
implemented in Tunisia and Albania) is the use of Territorial Employment Pacts. In Albania, for
example, rural areas are more likely to have high rates of youth unemployment, or vulnerable
employment, compared to urban areas. The Territorial Employment Pact (TEP) was piloted in a
rural area with one of the highest rates of youth unemployment to address this issue. TEPs promote
close partnerships between local actors, such as enterprises and trade unions, and the local branches
of the PES. This extends the services of the PES beyond their current outreach and into the most
rural areas.51 Another benefit is the fact that they promote employment solutions tailored to the
needs of the local area. Services provided under the TEP included entrepreneurship and business
50 Ray K. et al (2014)
51 UN Joint Programme for Youth Employment and Migration, ILO, Kukes Regional Council & Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and
Equal Opportunities, Territorial Employment Pact for Youth: Kukes Region, available at: