The members of a tripartite PEAK Body, consisting of 15 Government Ministers led by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Ratu Inoke Kububuabola, representatives of workers’ and employers’ organization have given their approval for the extension of an ILO assisted employment generation pilot programme called the ‘Integrated Human Resource Development Programme for Employment Promotion’ (IHRDPEP), an initiative of the Fiji Government, workers' and employers’ organizations.
“What we have seen is impressive. Replication of this successful programme in other parts of the country will be decided by cabinet. It will obviously need the support of donors,” said the Chairman of the PEAK Body meeting, Ratu Inoke Kububuabola.
The members of a tripartite PEAK Body, consisting of 15 Government Ministers led by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Ratu Inoke Kububuabola, representatives of workers’ and employers’ organization have given their approval for the extension of an ILO assisted employment generation pilot programme called the ‘Integrated Human Resource Development Programme for Employment Promotion’ (IHRDPEP), an initiative of the Fiji Government, workers' and employers’ organizations.
The decision comes after a meeting on July 24, 2003 and an extensive tour, earlier in the same week of former unemployed people in the Sigatoka area. The people visited were trained in a one or two week long targeted training course in selected areas such as: pig farming; vegetable farming; sewing; computers; eco-tourism; carpentry; fisheries; business; cooking; sweet making; and many others. These people were later provided with start-up capital to put their training into practice ('training for cash').
IHRDPEP has trained 7000 unemployed men, women and youths, including a few disabled persons. Over 3000 of them are now employed.
The Sigatoka Pilot Scheme is a practical demonstration on how jobs can be created in the formal and informal sector with various interventions and direct support. IHRDPEP aims to strengthen the potentials of unemployed persons to find employment in the formal and informal sector or to become self reliant in life. Following a survey on unemployed persons, economic opportunities and skills need of employers, a number of activities were identified under the seven sub-programmes of the IHRDPEP.
The seven sub-programmes of the IHRDPEP are Policy & Coordination; Human Resource Development for Tourism; Labour Administration & Productivity Improvement; Small & Micro Enterprise Development; Advanced Vocational Training; Cooperatives Development; and Eco-tourism.
“The seven sub-programmes work in a complimentary manner to find sustainable employment for unemployed persons. The programme is unique as it organizes targeted training programmes in areas to create demand for goods and services. The programme is a means and ways for unemployed persons to fulfil their aspiration for Decent Work,” said Mr. A. M. Zakaria, Director of the ILO-Suva Office.
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