A two-day training for trainers course (T.O.T.) on Career Counselling for senior staff of the Yazaki Samoa ended on Monday.

The training was technically supported by the International Labour Organisation (I.L.O.) and the Samoa National Youth Council (S.N.Y.C.). 

It was delivered in a very easy, interactive form, focussing on knowledge and skills on the role of career counsellors, writing job application letters and curriculum vitae (CV) and acquiring skills for job interviews. 

The I.L.O. National Coordinator, M. Tomasi Peni believes that the training will provide skills and knowledge to all participants.

“Trainees were also provided with a Pacific Guide called “My Guide to Employment” and it is envisaged that they will use the knowledge, skills and materials to career counsel other workers in Yazaki,” said Mr Tomasi Peni, the I.L.O. National Coordinator in Samoa. 

Ms. Kaisarina Salesa, Programme Coordinator for S.N.Y.C. said upon learning of the preliminary findings that about 60% of the total Yazaki EDS Samoa Ltd workforce are youths, it was imperative that S.N.Y.C. engage in the process of assisting these young people in the transitioning period before leaving the Yazaki employment for good. 

It is a concern that one of the major employers in the private sector is closing down leaving behind a number of unemployed youths. 

This impacts greatly on the economy of Samoa and the rising number of youth unemployment. S.N.Y.C. is therefore providing support that will benefit the workers and youths”.

The S.N.Y.C. presented the concept and benefits of the e-Youth hub at the training to sensitise the trainees to share this information with other staff. 

Other partners such as Samoa Business Enterprise Centre (S.B.E.C.) and the Employment Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) also presented on the services available for Yazaki workers to access. 

Mr. Uelese Tupuola, the President of the Yazaki Staff Association, who attended the training said that the skills he and his colleagues acquired provided them and their 650 plus workers with some hope. 

The recent launch of the e-Youth hub by the S.N.Y.C., where young workers from Yazaki can register to access employment services, will be rolled out. A pilot registration was also conducted during the training.  

This will also provide more information on the professional and geographical characteristics of the Yazaki young workers so specific programmes can be developed or pre-existing services linked to them. 

The other on-line employment registration presented during the training was the recent Labour Market Information System that are available with M.C.I.L.

Yazaki E.D.S is a member of the Samoa Manufactures & Exporters (S.A.M.E.) Association and member of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (S.C.C.I.). The Yazaki Staff Association is a member of the Samoa National Tripartite Forum (S.N.T.F.).

The General Manager of Yazaki EDS Samoa Ltd, Funefeai Oliva Vaai, thanked the partners for this important training which he thinks will help the workers try to access employment services and increase their skills to secure jobs.