Event summary 

The training of trainers is a refresher session to follow up on the 2 days training the ILO and the Samoa National Youth Council (SNYC) provided in May this year. With the closing of the Yazaki company by 25th of August, this training provided the capacity for the Yazaki management to assist 600 workers with interview skills,writing application letters and preparing C.V's to assist workers while they look for new jobs.

Background Information

Yazaki , a multinational enterprise (MNE) and the largest private sector employer in Samoa will ceases operations in August 2017. The Samoa National Employment Policy (NEP) and recently signed Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), highlights the implications on the labour market and economy ( annual loss of U$1.04m in personal income and 59% loss in export revenue of the government). 60% of the total Yazaki workforce are youth out of which 75% are sole earners in the family. In addition, 90% have below tertiary level qualifications making the transition to anther formal employment difficult and can potentially increase the current youth unemployment rate of 16%, potentially highlighted in the ILO supported Labour Force Survey commencing in July 2017.

In May 2017, CO-Suva conducted a mapping exercise on available services, including services established with the technical assistance of ILO, to identify which services can be immediately availed to disenfranchised Yazaki workers, including implementing partners. The mapping exercise was presented to and endorsed by the Samoa National Tripartite Forum (SNTF).

The overall objective of this ILO project is to strengthening existing national employment and social protection services to support the transition of 671 workers (men:38% and women:62%.) to secure alternative employment and livelihoods, preferably in the formal sector.