National Employment Centre trains returning workers

Returning seasonal workers are being equipped with the tools to build sustainable businesses to support their families after attending a three-day business training led by the National Employment Centre (NEC).

Centre director Lui Mario said the initiative reflected a growing shift in labour mobility, where the benefits extended beyond individuals to entire households.

“Labour mobility is no longer a worker gain, it’s a family gain,” he said.

The training, supported by partners including Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through Pacific Australia Skills and the Pacific Labour Mobility Support Programme, focused on strengthening business knowledge and reintegration planning for workers returning from overseas employment.

Mr Mario said there were plans to expand the programme, with the aim of hosting at least one training session each month, depending on available resources and continued partnerships.

“We hope that with this guidance, we will continue to have these trainings more regularly, with at least a minimum of one training per month,” he said.

Participants were encouraged to turn their ideas into practical ventures but were also cautioned against duplicating business plans within the same communities.

“I hope that with this training, we will take that mentality away, that businesses are meant to be sustainable and moving to the future,” Mr Mario said.

The programme, first introduced in 2019 was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.