Human Resources, Labour and Employment
July 17, 2009
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Developed for Northern Peninsula
A new Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) was announced today
by the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour
and Employment, for the Town of Englee and the surrounding area.
�The Provincial Government is committed to addressing the needs of
people in communities impacted by the downsizing or closure of key local
employers,� said Minister Susan Sullivan. �Displaced workers who have
made a lifelong contribution to one industry or company can be the most
vulnerable when downsizing or closures take place, and this initiative
is designed to address that reality. The project we are implementing for
people in Englee and neighboring communities will help 30 unemployed
individuals aged 55-64 enhance their skills so that they can transition
to self-employment or employment in a new field.�
This employment support program is a federal-provincial cost-shared
initiative (70 per cent federal, 30 per cent provincial) that provides
tailored support to communities experiencing continuously high levels of
unemployment or significant industrial downsizing (i.e. downsizing that
impacts at least 20 per cent of the local labour force). All TIOW
projects provide employment assistance activities such as employment
counseling, assistance with resume writing, and interview techniques. In
addition, all projects include at least two other employability
improvement activities and may include basic or specific skills
upgrading, employer-based work experience where wage subsidies are
provided to the employer, or community-based work experience.
�This project will offer mature displaced workers a comprehensive,
respectful, hands-on opportunity to diversify their skills so that they
can pursue new employment prospects,� said the Honourable Trevor Taylor,
MHA for the Straits-White Bay North District. �I am very pleased to see
this initiative in my area. I commend the town council and the College
of the North Atlantic for leading this project, and I look forward to
seeing positive results for area residents.�
For this specific project, the Englee Town Council is the project
sponsor in partnership with the College of the North Atlantic. The
college�s St. Anthony Campus will start the project by providing 16
weeks of skills development training to participants. Training will
include eight weeks of orientation and skill assessment, theory and
practical-based classroom training and employment readiness skills. This
is followed by eight weeks of specific skills training in two areas:
traditional Newfoundland and Labrador crafts and heritage carpentry
basics.
The town council will then supervise 14 weeks of employment. As the
work-based component provides an opportunity to restore heritage
buildings in the community, this will enhance the tourism sector for
this region, and those completing the heritage carpentry basics will
then be qualified to seek employment with construction companies or
become self-employed.
�The Town of Englee is pleased to partner with both levels of government
and the College of the North Atlantic to offer employment support to a
number of older, displaced workers,� said Edgar Fillier, Mayor of Englee.
�This program will not only provide immediate help to these individuals,
but also diversify our local economy by enhancing tourism and craft
production.�
The Town of Englee expects to start this project in August and has
commenced the selection process for participants and a co-ordinator.
Interested parties can call 709-866-2711 or e-mail dorisenglee@nf.aibn.com
for further information. The initiative in Englee represents the first
of many TIOW projects that will be established in communities throughout
the province this year. These projects will be announced in the coming
weeks.
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Media contacts:
2009 07 17
9:45 a.m. |