Vanuatu Department of Labour launches Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV) and calls on registrations

The three month pilot will focus on Shefa province and is designed to provide services to formal sector employees who lost jobs as a result of cyclone Pam and want to return to the workforce, including unemployed young people who are seeking career counselling, training and jobs.

News | 03 June 2015
The Minister for Internal Affairs Hon. Charlot Salwai launched the Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV) today with the support of representatives from employers and workers organisation including employment agent from local NGO’s and donor partner representatives.

The three month pilot will focus on Shefa province and is designed to provide services to formal sector employees who lost jobs as a result of cyclone Pam and want to return to the workforce, including unemployed young people who are seeking career counselling, training and jobs.

“I am very pleased to see one of the recommendations, suggested in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is being implemented”, said Hon. Salwai. While this initiative is government lead, I am very grateful for the technical assistance of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as it is in-line with government’s recovery and development plans, he added.

According to the ILO, it is estimated that Cyclone Pam has affected directly and indirectly the livelihoods of about 40,800 households or 195,000 people that live across the four disaster-affected provinces and total of 504,050 work days and VT 1.6 billion of personal income have been lost. The majority of these personal income losses has been in the provinces of Shefa and Tafea.

Hon. Salwai highlighted that by 22nd June 2015, all employers and government/donor appointed contractors can have access to a database where they can source workers – either on full time or temporary basis. The Japanese Government who is funding the Lapetasi International Multi-Purpose Wharf Project, has encouraged the successful contractor to support Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV) when sourcing local skills and talent.

“I encourage the Department of Labour to promote this initiative widely”, said Ms Boulekone, the General Manager for the Vanuatu Chamber for Commerce & Industry (VCCI). The VCCI will be one of the key partners of Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV), providing business training for those who have registered and expressed an interest and demonstrated motivation for self-employment. This will also support local private sector development and create opportunities where job seekers can be job providers.


Local NGO Youth Challenge Vanuatu (YCV) was also present at the launch and there are discussions to formalize a partnership to with ESV to deliver Ready 4 Work (R4W) training for youths selected by contractors or employers to start work. “Similar partnerships will be formalized in the next few weeks with local training providers to link those registered to specific skills training, based on the results of their Career Counselling”, said Mrs Lerrain Loughman, the government appointed lead for this initiative.

“Soon, the Vanuatu Council of Trade Unions (VCTU) will be launching its programme, to undertake an assessment of formal sector workers affected by the cyclone with the view to refer them to ESV. In addition, I am pleased to announce that from the total funding from our programme, the VCTU will be allocating U$10,000 to Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV) specifically for the training of our members who lost jobs and require additional training or re-training, to get back into the workforce” said Ms Bani, the President of VCTU.

Services provided through ESV will include: (a) registration, (b) career counselling, (c) training – ready for work, skills and business and (d) referrals and job placements. Staff from the Department of Labour (DoL), temporary staff and volunteers will manage and support front and back office processes.

It is envisaged that in the long term, Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV) will have a national coverage and expanded services that will include foreign employment, volunteering and local consultancies for retired professionals.

Employment Services Vanuatu (ESV) is located within the Department of Labour (DoL) at top floor, Vila Mall. Mr Lionel Kaluat, the Commissioner of Labour said that registrations will be open from 8.30am – 12.00pm every day from 4th to 19th June for Efate residence. Information can also accessed by calling 33135 or visiting ESV facebook page. “We also have media partners on board to promote the registration phase, including text broadcasts via mobile phones. In addition, we are in discussions with the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) to identify workers in their database that have not been able to return to the workforce”, said Mr Kaluat.

For further information and interviews contact: Mr Lionel Kaluat, Commissioner of Labour and Chair of TLAC on: lkaluat@vanuatu.gov.vu or (678) 555 0479