Huila: By 2026, the Ministry of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security (MAPTSS) plans to formalize the employment of thousands of workers performing professional activities without certification through the National Qualifications System (SNQ). Eduarda Neto, the manager of the National Qualification Institute (INQ), highlighted this initiative during a seminar focused on disseminating the SNQ and its tools. The seminar, organized by MAPTSS, gathered technicians, training institutions, companies, and civil society organizations in Huila.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Neto explained that the INQ is concentrating on identifying individuals who enter the labor market without formal qualifications despite having mastered their professions. The lack of legal documentation proving their skills limits their access to better job opportunities and restricts their labor mobility. Neto emphasized that formalizing these professions will enhance national productivity, strengthen company competitiveness, and support the shift from informal to formal economic sectors. This initiative aligns with the National Development Plan (2023-2027) and the National Employment Agenda.
Neto further elaborated that the SNQ, created in 2022, introduced mechanisms for recognizing, validating, and certifying skills acquired over a lifetime. This enables informal workers to obtain legally recognized qualifications, allowing them to carry out their activities in a regularized manner. "The INQ aims to ensure that no competent professional is excluded due to a lack of documentation. The system now offers formal pathways for electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, mechanics, seamstresses, and many other workers to have their knowledge recognized and valued," she stated.
She stressed that qualifying the human capital of young people is crucial for economic diversification, national competitiveness, and social inclusion. Implementing the SNQ is expected to improve workforce quality and ensure greater academic and professional mobility, as well as adapting courses to meet the demands of the productive sector. The event brought together representatives from public and private institutions, social partners, and civil society organizations to expand knowledge about the SNQ and strengthen coordination among the various actors involved in vocational training in the country.
