New program seeks to train US workers for workplace

The CNMI Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management announces the first phase of its Workforce Readiness Initiative on Monday, April 16. The CNMI SHRM was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior through the CNMI Department of Commerce in support of the CNMI Economic and Labor Enhancement Program. This initiative to benefit the community will kick off on April 16 with a one-week warehouseman training program.

SHRM’s role in administering this grant through its Workforce Readiness Initiative will be to facilitate the preparation of unemployed U.S. qualified workers through job preparation and skills training to be better qualified to enter the CNMI job market.

SHRM will:

– Establish a program of training that will assist U.S. qualified workers (defined as U.S. citizens, FAS citizens, and green card holders) to be better prepared to join the CNMI workforce

– Assist, as possible, in the placement of training graduates with companies that have agreed to accept Workforce Readiness graduates either in an on-the-job training or employment basis

In order to accomplish the intent of this grant, SHRM needs the help of the business community. The Workforce Readiness Initiative will consist of a series of one-week pre-placement training programs with a combination of general employee enhancement and job specific skills in employment areas where SHRM-member companies and other community businesses have indicated a need for replacement or additional staff. The initiative will start off with warehouseman training, followed by wait staff, food service workers, housekeepers, telephone operators, clerical and other job-types, as the needs are identified. It is anticipated that the warehouseman program will include forklift certification training to enhance the graduates’ value to prospective employers.

SHRM asks that businesses notify the Workforce Readiness Initiative of types of staff that they might need, so that the initiative can arrange training programs to help fill these needs. SHRM also asks community businesses to work with the initiative to place the people trained by the various programs into their organizations. In turn, the SHRM Workforce Readiness Initiative will be working with the Workforce Investment Agency and the CNMI Department of Labor to obtain suitable candidates that can receive WIA support to help with salary costs.

As mentioned above, the Workforce Readiness Initiative is for the benefit of unemployed U.S. qualified workers. Qualified individuals who are registered with WIA or the DOL Employment Services should contact those offices and let them know of their interest. Those who are not registered and are interested in the initiative should also contact those offices and express their interest. All interested candidates should sign up with WIA to allow them to help employers with funding of initiative graduates. You can also contact Frank Gibson, the Workforce Readiness Initiative manager, by e-mail at hrsupportcnmi@gmail.com.

Although the initiative cannot guarantee a job for every participant, it will make every effort to get each graduate employed. Several companies have already committed to accepting initiative graduates and the initiative will continue to source jobs through its SHRM-member companies and other employers. Companies interested in considering initiative graduates can also contact Gibson at hrsupportcnmi@gmail.com.

This program is supported by federal funds in the amount of $102,000 under the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, CNMI Economic and Labor Enhancement Program through a sub-grant award from the CNMI Department of Commerce. (SHRM)