On May 19th 2010, the Secretariat of the Youth Employment Network (YEN) accepted Vanuatu’s application to join this global network of countries committed to tackling youth employment issues at the highest level.
Vanuatu is the first Pacific Island country to join YEN. The proposal to the Vanuatu Council of Ministers (Government Cabinet) was tabled jointly by the Minister for Labour and the Minister for Youth. On receiving unanimous approval, the YEN application letter was similarly co-signed by both Ministers and sent to the Director-General of the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland.
Membership of YEN is a significant statement of policy commitment from the Government of Vanuatu to its unemployed youth. Commissioner of Labour and Employment Services Lionel Kaluat has been appointed as YEN technical focal person for Vanuatu.
Membership of YEN will compliment the implementation of the country YE NAP, which also requires development of YE benchmarks and M&E systems.
Vanuatu is hoping to be joined by more PICS in an effort to build a regional YEN membership bloc.