The NEC Local Employment Registration System will reduce gaps in labour market information and help connect job seekers with employers in Fiji.
Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation CEO Edward Bernard made the comment following the launch of the registration system by Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh in Suva on Thursday.
“This is a very valuable initiative for Fiji, having an online platform where now the unemployed and those that are seeking employment are able to register,” Mr Bernard said.
He said one of the major gaps in Fiji’s labour market was the lack of up-to-date information on job seekers.
The new system will provide real-time data on the number of people looking for work, their qualifications, and their experience.
“Eventually this will also help employers to access this database and select workers who are looking for a job and absorb them into the industry,” Mr Bernard said.
Mr Singh said the system was part of the ministry’s wider digital strategy and aligned with priority four of its strategic plan, which focused on digitalisation through technological innovation and automation.
He said the ministry planned to enhance the platform further, potentially introducing an employer-facing portal that would allow employers to post job opportunities and communicate directly with registered applicants.
“The system’s potential to support better workforce planning is equally important,” Mr Singh said.
“By analysing registration data, we will be better positioned to identify skills gaps within the local labour market.
“This will allow us to explore targeted interventions, whether through matching applicants who already have relevant skills and experience or by connecting those interested in reskilling with Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.”
He added the system was designed to support not only employment placement but also productivity growth and long-term workforce development.
Meanwhile, Mr Singh had said that employers wanting to hire foreign workers must first prove that they could not find suitably qualified workers before being allowed to hire from overseas.
He said the present system had already placed strict conditions on the recruitment of foreign labour, with employers required to advertise vacancies locally before any approval was granted to recruit from outside.
