About 200 of the 700 employees of Samoa Tuna Processors who lost their jobs when the Cannery closed their tuna canning operation last December seem to be making most of the temporary on the job training opportunities they’ve received.
Under a federal training grant administered by the Department of Human Resources, the employees have been re hired for cleaning and maintenance type jobs at the STP plant in Atuu while others are working at restaurants, or stores as cashiers, or to stock goods on shelves and other general type work.
Some have started leanirng new skills such as elei making or sewing.
The program pays the employees 5 hours a day six days a week.
Makerita Enesi who heads the Training Division of the Department of Human Resources says the employees are doing very well, and making good use of the opportunities given them to learn new skills.
She says some of the displaced workers didn’t wait for the government to look for jobs for them.
Some of the employees are being hired permanently by their new employers.
Some found jobs on their own, others are learning new skills to earn money through training workshops offered by the Department of Youth And Women Affairs.
Others have enrolled in basic computer courses. For most of the workers, the only jobs they’ve held is as fish cleaners.
After the new pay period for the grant funded hires, ASG would be able to submit its main grant application for funds to find temporary jobs for the displaced workers.
