A Curriculum Vitae (CV) review clinic for job seekers was organised on Friday in Takoradi in the Western Region by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, as part of its GrEEn Project.
The event formed part of SNV Ghana’s up-coming second annual GrEEn (2022) regional job fair in the Western Region on November 22, under the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) Project.
The job fair was on the theme, “Green and Circular Economy: A sure way to creating decent and sustainable employment and jobs.” That of Ashanti Region has been slated for November 15.
Collaborators include the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE), Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
The Western Regional Labour Officer, Ms Elizabeth Acquah, told the participants that, as they entered the world of work, they needed to understand the Labour provisions.
These included the National Labour Commission (NLC) Act L.I 1832, on conflict management and Labour Offices Act, Act 651, which spelt out relations with employer, conditions for entry, discipline, payment of salaries, transfer and grounds to terminate.
She continued “The provisions give the employer all these mandates. So, as you enter, you secured the job, it is not ended, discipline policy is coming, human resource, transfer and promotion policies. So everywhere there’s a general condition of employment status.
“So as a worker, you should sharpen yourself when you secure the job. What am I expected to do to avoid termination? Before you go into legal issues, look at fair and unfair terms, how do I work productively to promote the industry?”
Ms Acquah urged the labour market to work in line with stipulated labour laws for an amicable and conducive environment.
Skills Development Advisor, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Ms Gifty Afi Cudjoe, said the clinic was designed to prepare the youth for the job market and also link them to potential employers.
Since 2020, SNV has organised 10 job fairs at the district and regional level in partnership with local assemblies with the aim of providing CV support, career guidance and counselling as well as connecting job seekers to green employers.
A business and marketing consultant, HiPAG Surveys, Mr Isaac Tweneboah-Koduah, wondered why the youth were not getting the jobs, noting that some possessed CVs that contained inadequate information on even phone numbers and credible email addresses.
Advising participants on the right attitudes towards work, he told prospective job seekers, particularly interns, to focus more on how to make the mark in the world of work and not hurry, asking for what salary awaited them.
Mr Tweneboah-Koduah advised participants to understand the world of work and also gain confidence of their employer.
President of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, Sherrif Ghali, mentioned that employers looked for determined young people, teachable and honest.
Again, employers, he stressed, needed resilient and computer literate people.
BY CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI
