Some 500 participants of the American Samoa National Emergency Grant (NEG) program are eligible to be employed in either the public or private sector or a non-profit group under a new NEG program called the NEG Work Experience Internship. The NEG program is administered locally by the Department of Human Resources (DHR).

Samoa News first learned of this program last Thursday after being contacted by an official who stated that the "work experience program" is fully funded by NEG and a handful of individuals - whose salaries will be paid by NEG - are now going through human resources to process their paperwork for full time employment.

DHR director Evelyn Vaitautolu Langford said Sunday that this program is a "chance to help individuals to upgrade their skills" and the salaries of these individuals will be paid by NEG.

According to a two-page fact sheet from DHR, there are over 500 NEG participants available to work under this program, and the individuals are considered ASG employees with salaries paid by the NEG program, which will pay for a total of 520 working hours per person, with no overtime allowed.

NEG participants in the program cannot be placed in a worksite at any casino or other gambling establishment, or at a golf course or entertainment/recreational activity, such as a night club or bar, etc.

Yesterday morning DHR hosted a meeting with employers to explain this new program, saying that NEG participants are now available to be employed.

PROJECT

DHR said this project is an allowable employment and training activity under the U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act and is part of the approved American Samoa NEG Workforce Development Strategy to assist participants who are currently enrolled in the NEG program.

It is funded under the NEG awarded to American Samoa following the 2009 earthquake/tsunami disaster and the Chicken of the Sea cannery closure, and was given to assist with temporary employment assistance and workforce development training.

Over 900 participants are still receiving supportive services and completing job skills assessment testing at the American Samoa Community College in a partnership agreement with the Trades and Technology Department of ASCC.

DHR says over 500 participants have completed their skills testing to date with the remainder to be completed this month. Additionally, this work experience is one of the initiatives in the Workforce Development strategy to upgrade participant skills, knowledge and abilities.

"Work experience is a planned, structured learning experience that takes place in a workplace setting for a limited period of time," said Langford.

"It is a strategy for participants who have little or no work experience in situations where an employer can offer a meaningful experience," she explained. "Although an employer may also receive some benefit from work experience in the form of work being done or recruiting a potential new  employee, the primary goal is to benefit the participant."

The DHR information sheet notes that work experience may include, but not be limited to: instruction in employability skills or generic workplace skills, exposure to various aspects of an industry, job shadowing, the integration of basic academic skills into work activities, and entrepreneurship.

 DHR said that Worksite Employers "must also work cooperatively with the NEG program staff and should be flexible in working with participants who have issues that may be barriers to employment."

Attention must also be given to ensure that work experience arrangements do not unfavorably impact current employees and do not impair existing contracts for services, said DHR, who is the employer of record for the NEG participant since DHR/NEG office is paying wages and related benefits.