Informal Economy
Digital employment marketplace a game changer for Vanuatu
The initiative was technically supported and funded by the United Nations joint Informal Economies Recovery Project, based on a proposal received from the Vanuatu Tripartite Labour Advisory Council.
On January 18th 2022, about 2 months since the launch of the website, the Commissioner of Labour Ms Murielle Metsan Meltenoven confirmed to the ILO that over 1,000 job seekers had registered on the platform. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Affairs, Honourable Ishmael Kalsakau officiated at the launch and congratulated the Department of Laour for this major achievement.
“I extend my appreciation to the Chair of the Tripartite Labour Advisory Council (TLAC) and its members – Government, Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce & Industries (VCCI) and the Vanuatu Council of Trades Union (VCTU), for their vision and working with the ILO to develop and launch this initiative”, said Mr Matin Karimli, the ILO Director for Pacific Island Countries. Mr Karimli further added that the ILO was pleased to support this initiative as it aligned with Vanuatu’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy 2020-23, in particular Recovery Objective 2 – Enhancing lives and livelihoods.
Employment Vanuatu features resources such as job seekers guides, business advisory materials, information on labour mobility, information on social security and employer guidelines. The platform allows job seekers to register and post their resumes, employers to place job vacancies including search and find talent.
The initiative was technically supported and funded by the United Nations joint Informal Economies Recovery Project, based on a proposal received from the Tripartite Labour Advisory Council (TLAC). “This initiative also links to the work we are doing in the areas of providing business development services, extending social security and organizing the informal sector”, said Mr Edward Bernard, the Project Coordinator.
Mr Bernard further emphasised that the digital platform is a “without walls” business incubator and/or accelerator where potential and existing entrepreneurs can access information virtually. The platform is also designed to help informal workers and informal enterprises access information to transit to formality.
A fundamental outcome of this initiative is that it will provide updated labour market information, to policy makers for evidenced based employment and enterprise developed policies and programes.