Continued South South Cooperation Fiji - Kiribati
The ILO through its Youth Employment Programme in Kiribati brokered an initiative with both countries that would support Kiribati in establishing a National Employment Service Centre (NESC). With Fiji already having an operation National Employment Center (NEC), the initiative facilitated a 10 day study attachment by a Ministry of Labour official from Kiribati to the Fiji NEC.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministers of Labour of Fiji and Kiribati on labour reform and labour inspection earlier this year. This MoU was well received by the peoples of both countries and layed the platform to support the sharing of technical assistance between both countries. In realising this, the ILO through its Youth Employment Programme in Kiribati brokered an initiative with both countries that would support Kiribati in establishing a National Employment Service Centre (NESC). With Fiji already having an operational National Employment Center (NEC), the initiative facilitated a 10 day study attachment by a Ministry of Labour official from Kiribati to the Fiji National Employment Center.
Kiribati government official Ms. Kakiata Tikaatake said
The current services provided by the employment division at the Ministry of Labour in Kiribati, include the registration of unemployed youths and posting of job vacancies at the ministry notice board. The establishment of a NESC will, provide a one-stop-shop for registration for national or foreign (RSE/PSWPS) employment, information on vacancies, workplace attachments, training, career advice/counselling and access to various trainings such as Generate Your Business Idea (GYB) and Start Your Business (SYB). Currently these services are offered by different agencies or not available. A major component of the NESC will be the development of a database which will monitor progress and provide evidence based policy advice to improve policy formulation and programme development. A tripartite plus National Advisory Committee, including a youth representative will also be established to guide the development and progress of the NESC.
Kiribati government official Ms. Kakiata Tikaatake said
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ILO for supporting the 2 weeks work attachment from the 6th to 22nd November, 2012. For the last 2 weeks I have learned so many things especially in the NEC Services in Fiji. I understand why the NEC was established and its four services to People in Fiji targeting the unemployed person for Formal, Self-employment, Volunteer Services and Foreign Employment. I know now how the NEC Process works through the 9 steps, which are very helpful in a way of establishing the National Employment Services Center in Kiribati ."
The current services provided by the employment division at the Ministry of Labour in Kiribati, include the registration of unemployed youths and posting of job vacancies at the ministry notice board. The establishment of a NESC will, provide a one-stop-shop for registration for national or foreign (RSE/PSWPS) employment, information on vacancies, workplace attachments, training, career advice/counselling and access to various trainings such as Generate Your Business Idea (GYB) and Start Your Business (SYB). Currently these services are offered by different agencies or not available. A major component of the NESC will be the development of a database which will monitor progress and provide evidence based policy advice to improve policy formulation and programme development. A tripartite plus National Advisory Committee, including a youth representative will also be established to guide the development and progress of the NESC.