“Learning and development is one of the key roles we offer with services we provide to ensure that graduates are fully equipped once they enter the workforce,” Mr Naiyaga said.
From left: Fiji Revenue and Customs and Service acting chief executive officer Malakai Naiyaga and the First Secretary Governance at the Australian High Commission in Fiji Rebecca Brown officiating the launch of Tertiary Entry Level Paid Programme at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service office in Suva on September 27, 2023.
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), in partnership with the Australian Tax office has embarked on the introduction of an early level recruitment program called Tertiary Entry Level Paid Programme (TELPP).
FRCS acting chief executive officer, Malaki Naiyaga, said one of the key pillars in their strategic plan for 2021 to 2023 was to provide employment, especially to youths.
Mr Naiyaga said the programme aimed to attract, recruit and retain high quality tertiary students undertaking the relevant bachelors programme.
“Learning and development is one of the key roles we offer with services we provide to ensure that graduates are fully equipped once they enter the workforce,” Mr Naiyaga said.
“Early engagement is one of the key aspects of the programme which is designed to get students on board and familiarise themselves in the work that we do,” he said.
Mr Naiyaga also said in the last 16 months a total of 5000 people left our shores for better opportunities. This was a loss of skilled workers.
“Programmes such as Tertiary Level Paid Programme will be beneficial in address the issue of labour migration in the near future,” Mr Naiyaga said.
“This will help us retain workers and equip them too.”
University of the South Pacific Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President Professor Jito Vanualailai said the TELLP programme would give a bonus to students in the degree programme such commerce and accounting that job opportunities are available for them.
Mr Vanualailai said FRCS was a life line service provider for Fiji.
With the programme, FRCS would equip students on how to meet the necessary requirements the job needs.
“In my years working at the University of the South Pacific this is an excellent initiative in terms of job security,” he said.
About the Programme
FRCS director for People Capability and Culture, Uraia Rasake, said thought the programme would begin next year, applications would be open next month.
He also said the entry level of the programme goes a further step than conventional programmes as it aimed at students who had only completed their first year of under graduated studies.
“Students under the programme would earn a salary based on their hours of work with a minimum of 20 hours per week and up to a maximum of 30 hours for those enrolled full time undertaking one unit in their final semester,” Mr Rasake said.
“Candidate selection would be based on the GPA of the student and those successful would be rotated through several departments.
“The programme runs for two years.”
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