THIRTY industry employees have received their ‘Intermediate Level Certificate’ from Labour Division, Ministry of Commerce Industry Labour & Immigration (MCILI) last week.
This followed a two-week training program organized and facilitated by the National Trades Training Testing and Certification (NTTT&C) Unit of the Labour Division for employees (ers) in the Carpentry, Joinery, and Construction industries in and around Honiara.
The training covers specific areas that workers need to know at that level including Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) issues when it comes to performing their tasks or when supervising their co-workers and/or subordinates.
The training program was designed to accommodate both theory and practical sessions to give competency to the recipients. It is then followed by an assessment test where participants need to pass before the SI National Trade Certificate can be issued.
In the end, the overall result showed an excellent performance that merit their Certificate level.
The training was tailored to the existing need of the industry and guided by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) standards which the Solomon Islands had ratified as a member since 1984.
Speaking on behalf of MCILI Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu, during the certificate presentation ceremony, the Deputy Secretary Technical Mr. Eric George Ongoa congratulated and encouraged participants to take pride in their achievement and to use it for the betterment of all including the organizations they served.
He told recipients to add value and be the change for efficiency in their respective workplaces. He reminded them that “trades and industrial training is important for industrial developments that our country kept striving for”.
Deputy Secretary (Technical) Ongoa stated the “Trades and Industrial Training” provides competitive skills and knowledge to unlock future opportunities in self-employment and entrepreneurship ventures in building construction sectors. It supports one’s capability with creativity and confidence to perform competitively and excel in career development.
He encouraged employees to apply the valuable skills and knowledge learned at their workplaces. This would keep them competitive and adapt to the changing working environment on the cutting edge of industry developments.
The Deputy Secretary re-iterated those who missed this great opportunity to keep in touch for future training.
“This kind of training develops employees and employers to be aware of expected work safety practices and procedures. Building team spirit in development areas that creates a supportive workforce. Investment in human resources in such training programs enhances the employer-employee relationship that values intellectual capital and job satisfaction which leads to high productivity in organizational performance”, Eric George Ongoa pointed out.
Mr. Ongoa further stated that “the current DCGA government’s policy redirection emphasizes human resources development and to focus more specifically on developing technical and industry skills. TVET or industrial skills training directly impacted on companies and industries performance that leads to economic growth and prosperity”.
The Deputy Commissioner of Labour of the MCILI, Mr. David Kaumae, when speaking during the event gave supportive remarks on the importance of training and encourage participants to embrace continuous training since “knowledge and skills development is an important component in any organization that pursues higher market share in this dynamic environment”.
He further pointed out that, “changes and rate of technology today in workplaces mean workers need to up-skilled themselves in-parallel to enhance productivity”. He further reiterated that “training leads to a more skilled and productive workforce, producing more efficiently a higher standard of goods and services, which consequently forms the basis for faster economic growth and rising living standards”.
A representative of the participants Mr. Rex Kwatedonga thanked the NTTT & C Unit/MCILI for the opportunity where they learned a lot of new things that are very crucial for their work in their various trades.
He said, “I thank the SIG through Labour/MCIL for recognizing us, as important stakeholders in our service to the nation-building”. He further requested if such training could be available throughout the year for more employees (ers) to be informed of the standards amidst all that we are seeing around us in Honiara and through the country as far as their trade of carpentry and construction is concerned.
The MCILI in its corporate and annual plans ensures the enhancement of trade skills capacity towards building an enabling society; remains one of the core deliverables. MCILI with its available resources will continue implementing the regulatory function in ensuring training has the quality and interest of the carpentry, joinery, and construction industries like other trades that are regulated under MCILI/Labour jurisdictions.
The event was witnessed by the participant’s family and workplace supporters, representatives from the media, and staff from MCILI.
More trainings in similar and other trades like electrical, mechanic, and plumbing trades are planned for next year.
