Parliament announces transition to SA Youth Mobi digital platform to reform EPWP program

Agra, primarily known for the Taj Mahal, is also famous for manufacturing shoes, slippers, and other leather products. Previously, this work was limited to small homes and workshops, but now it is transforming the lives of thousands of people. The main reason for this change is the Uttar Pradesh government's 'One District, One Product' (ODOP) scheme. This scheme has provided artisans with training, modern machinery, financial assistance, and market access, which is positively impacting their income.

Agra is one of the major footwear hubs in the country, where manufactured shoes and leather goods are exported not only within India but also internationally. According to Anuj Kumar Singh, Joint Commissioner of the industry, ODOP is not just a scheme but a group of several schemes. Initially, Agra was selected for leather and stone and marble handicrafts, after which non-leather footwear was also included in it.

Currently, leather products worth about ₹4,000 crore are exported from Agra. Around 150 export units are associated with this industry, and the livelihoods of 4 to 5 lakh people depend on this trade.

The true strength of any industry lies not in its machines, but in the people who drive it forward. With this thought in mind, a Common Facility Centre has been established in Nawada village on Shamshabad Road. Here, youth are trained in cutting, stitching, finishing, packaging, and working on modern machinery. The center is not limited to teaching skills; it also shows entrepreneurs the path to start their own businesses. Trainer Akash Tomar states that many young people who came to the center had never worked on a machine before, but now they are preparing products that are sold in the market.

The objective of the ODOP scheme is not just to teach skills. Under this scheme, artisans can receive loans from banks, subsidies of 10 to 25 percent, and assistance of up to ₹5 lakh under the Chief Minister Youth Entrepreneur Scheme. Additionally, they get opportunities for toolkits, sewing machines, and participation in exhibitions held across the country. The effort is to ensure that artisans start their own enterprises instead of looking for jobs.

The young women training at the Common Facility Centre present the most inspiring picture of this initiative. Some are making bags, some are preparing purses, and some are working on wallets. Many women are making such products with their own hands for the first time that are sold in the market. Lakshmi, who is undergoing training, says that she never imagined before that she would be able to make such products herself. After three months of training, she has gained confidence, and now she believes she can become self-reliant.

In conclusion, Agra's identity is not limited to the Taj Mahal; the skilled artisans of this city are also a great strength. The ODOP scheme has successfully connected these hands with new technology, training, and the market. The result is clearly visible in the income of the artisans, their confidence, and the overall business. This change shows that if skills are given proper opportunities, artisans from small towns can also make their mark nationally and globally.

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), employment in the German automotive sector reached its lowest level since 2005 in the first half of 2026. By the end of June, the sector employed 691,500 workers, which is 42,300 fewer people, or 5.8%, compared to the previous year.

The decline in employment in the automotive sphere was the most significant among Germany's large industrial sectors with over 200,000 employees. Nevertheless, the automotive industry remained the second-largest employer in the country in the manufacturing sector. The leading position was held by vehicle production, which employed 905,900 people by the end of the first half of the year.

In companies producing vehicles and engines, employment fell by 6.1% year-on-year, totaling 429,200 employees. In the production of components and accessories for cars, employment decreased by 7.6%, reaching 219,500 people. Meanwhile, in the segment of bodywork, body repairs, and trailers, employment increased by 10%, rising to 42,800 workers.

The drop in employment affected not only the automotive industry. Overall, Germany's manufacturing sector employed 5.29 million people by the end of the first half of the year. This figure decreased by 144,100 people, which is 2.7% year-on-year.

A reduction in personnel numbers was also noted in other major industries. The number of workers in metal goods production decreased by 3.8%, and in the production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals—by 3.7%. In the chemical industry, the decrease was 3.6%, and in electrical equipment production—3.4%.

In mechanical engineering, the largest industrial sector in terms of employment in Germany, the number of workers decreased by 2.7% compared to the previous year. More moderate rates of employment decline were recorded in the production of plastics, the food industry, and in the production of computers, electronic, and optical products.

According to the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, based on information from the Migration Agency, approximately 1.4 million citizens of Uzbekistan are working in almost 40 countries worldwide. The structure of labor migration is gradually shifting away from traditional destinations towards Europe and East Asia.

The agency's data indicates that the largest number of labor migrants are concentrated in Russia—834,200 people, followed by Kazakhstan with 84,400, Turkey with 72,100, and South Korea with 46,400. A total of 258,000 Uzbek citizens are employed in European countries, and another 97,700 are in other states.

Among the migrants, women account for 398,900 people, which is 28.6% of the total, while youth number 402,100 people, or 28.9%. The share of CIS countries in the migration structure has decreased to 29%, while the share of the European region has increased to 42%, and the share of East Asia has risen to 26%.

The Central Bank notes that trends in the workforce can have varied impacts on economic growth in different regions: in Central Asia, this demographic factor can increase annual economic growth by about 1 percentage point, whereas in Northern Europe, it may reduce growth by nearly 0.7 percentage points. The regulator believes this creates favorable economic conditions for expanding labor corridors from Central Asia to Europe and other countries with aging workforces.

One of the key economic factors influencing migration decisions remains the difference in wages between destination and origin countries. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the highest average wage levels were recorded in Luxembourg at $9,307 in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms, followed by Belgium ($8,297), the Netherlands ($7,234), the United States ($6,273), and Finland ($6,253). Next are Ireland ($5,441), Slovakia ($5,291), Canada ($4,571), Sweden ($4,538), and Switzerland ($4,466).

The ILO report indicates that despite significant uncertainty in economic and trade policies in 2025, the global labor market proved more resilient than expected. The global unemployment rate remains around 4.9%, and the broader job deficit indicator, covering people who are not working but want and are able to work, is projected at 408 million people in 2026.

Youth unemployment in 2025 stood at 12.4%, and the proportion of young people who are neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET) reached 20%, encompassing 257 million young people. The ILO forecasts that the NEET rate among youth will reach 20.2% by 2027, and 27.7% among young women, with a potential rise to 34% among women in low- and middle-income countries.

According to the latest available ILO data for 2022, 167.7 million labor migrants participated in the international labor market, with 68.4% of them employed in high-income countries. By sector, migrant employment was distributed as follows: 68.4% in services, 24.3% in industry, and 7.4% in agriculture.

The Central Bank emphasizes that by 2030, population aging and the shrinking working-age population in European countries will become one of the key structural problems of the labor market, with the labor shortage in the region estimated at 7.5–10.5 million people. Demand for labor is expected to grow in mechanical engineering, high-tech manufacturing, infrastructure construction, transport and logistics, agriculture, medicine, information technology, tourism, and services.

According to forecasts from the Institute for Employment Research of the German Federal Employment Agency, if the country does not attract at least 400,000 skilled migrants annually, it will negatively affect GDP growth. Healthcare and social security have been named as a separate area of demand. According to the forecast by the Scientific Institute of the German Association of Private Health Insurance (WIP), the need for care in the country will reach 5.7 million people by 2030, requiring up to 500,000 additional workers in healthcare and care. In the UK, according to Skills England, about 90,000 additional care workers will be needed. In Japan, the labor shortage in care, agriculture, and construction is estimated at 6–7 million people, while in South Korea, in shipbuilding, metalworking, electronics, and industry, it is 1.2–1.5 million people.

Growing demand for workers is also forecasted in the green energy sector. A study by the German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) shows that Germany will face a shortage of about 300,000 specialists in installing solar panels and wind turbines, as well as technicians, mechanics, and environmental engineers, due to renewable energy projects. The Central Bank notes that Northern European countries are becoming centers of clean technologies, where demand for workers in green metallurgy, wind energy, and information technology is also growing.

Increased demand for labor is also expected in the Gulf countries as part of national development programs, including efforts to diversify the economy away from oil dependence. According to the ILO, Saudi Arabia may require 1.5 to 2 million additional workers, and the United Arab Emirates—1 million, primarily in construction, healthcare, hospitality, tourism, aviation, and logistics.

Based on these trends, the Central Bank concludes that alongside traditional labor migration, it is becoming increasingly important for Uzbekistan to develop the linguistic, professional, and digital skills of its youth, as well as prepare for remote service exports. The regulator believes that when further organizing external labor migration, demographic and structural changes in the global labor market, as well as new geographical and professional areas with high labor demand, must be taken into account.