Suva City Council (SCC) employees engaged in skill-based roles will have the opportunity to enhance their qualifications following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pacific Polytech (PP).
Tevita Boseiwaqa, acting chief executive officer of SCC, stated that the agreement will enable staff members to improve their skills. “The majority of our staff are involved in skill-based work and this initiative will benefit more than 200 employees,” Mr. Boseiwaqa noted.
He emphasized that the MoU is designed to support three-quarters of the workforce, highlighting the council’s commitment to a multi-skilled approach. The training needs analysis will be conducted to pinpoint specific areas where employees can benefit from this agreement.
Mr. Boseiwaqa explained that identifying these areas will also help in determining staff requirements and facilitating their exposure to a broader range of skills. “When employees are multi-skilled, their opportunities for advancement and growth are significantly greater than when they are specialized in a single area,” he remarked.
Peni Taoi, founding director of PP, expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement, noting that it builds on similar MoUs with Labasa and Nasinu Town Councils, which offer comparable benefits to employees. “Pacific Polytech focuses on technical skills and upskilling to harness emerging opportunities,” Mr. Taoi stated. “This marks my third MoU with councils, with previous agreements in Labasa and Nasinu.”