Employment services

Apprenticeship Training Scheme

The Samoa Apprenticeship Training Scheme is a government initiative designed to upskill local tradespeople and promote the importance of a highly skilled workforce for Samoa.

Statutory basis: Operating under the Apprenticeship Act 2014 and the Apprenticeship Regulations 2015, the Samoa Apprenticeship Council acts as the regulatory body that governs, regulates and oversees the scheme. The Ministry is the administrative arm and its Chief Executive Officer serves as the Chairperson.

Following the Apprenticeship New Structure 2022, the scheme issues formal qualifications aligned with the 10-level Samoa Qualifications Framework in the trade areas below:

• Automotive Engineering
  • Samoa Certificate III in Automotive Engineering
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Automotive Engineering
• Carpentry & Joinery
  • Samoa Certificate III in Carpentry & Joinery
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Carpentry & Joinery
• Electrical Engineering
  • Samoa Certificate III in Electrical Engineering
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Electrical Engineering
• Fitting & Machining
  • Samoa Certificate III in Fitting & Machining
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Fitting & Machining
• Plumbing
  • Samoa Certificate III in Plumbing
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Plumbing
• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
  • Samoa Certificate III in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
• Welding
  • Samoa Certificate III in Welding
  • Samoa Certificate IV in Welding

With provisions for additional trades in the future.

All trades are taught at the National University of Samoa's Faculty of Applied Science.

Duration: Under the 2022 Reformulation, the accredited training program consists of two core components:

• On-the-job training (Workplace Assessment – conducted at the apprentice's workplace)
• Off-the-job training (Classroom Theory – conducted at the National University of Samoa, Mondays – Thursdays, 5pm – 8pm)

It awards both the Samoa Certificate III and the Samoa Apprenticeship Certificate IV. Completing both qualification levels requires a total of three (3) years of training, structured at 18 months per Certificate.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be 18 years or older;
• have completed Certificate II from any TVET institute in Samoa; and
• be currently employed with at least one year of relevant work experience.

The Apprenticeship Scheme operates on a three-way contribution model — the Government, Employer, and Apprentice each contribute a fixed share of the training fee:

Tuition Fee Breakdown 2026

Level	Total (WST)	Government (65%)	Employer (30%)	Apprentice (5%)
Samoa Certificate III (full year)	$2,500	$1,625.00	$750.00	$125.00
Samoa Certificate III (half year)	$1,250	$812.50	$375.00	$62.50
Samoa Apprenticeship Certificate IV (full year)	$3,000	$1,950.00	$900.00	$150.00
Samoa Apprenticeship Certificate IV (half year)	$1,500	$975.00	$450.00	$75.00

Contribution share: Government 65% · Employer 30% · Apprentice 5%.

How to apply:

• Secure an employer who will sponsor your apprenticeship (this is required before applying).
• Complete the Apprenticeship Application Form.
• Applications typically open in December and close end of February / mid-March each year.

For program details, see the Samoa Apprenticeship Training Scheme — Guide 2025. Contact MCIL via the sidebar for the application form.

Forms & downloads

Application forms:

• Application to Enter Apprenticeship 2024 (PDF)
• Trade Test Application 2024 (PDF)

Trade brochures:

• Carpentry & Joinery
• Electrical Engineering
• Fitting & Machining
• Automotive Engineering
• Plumbing
• Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
• Welding

Labour Market

We produce regular reports on Samoa's workforce, wages, and employment trends — informing policy and helping businesses plan. Our work is mandated under the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, which directs us to collect and publish information on labour relations, unemployment, wages, and related matters.

Surveys we conduct:

• Labour Market Survey — national employment trends, training needs, skills shortages, and private-sector outlook.
• Periodic Survey of Employment — six-monthly updates on employment numbers and status.
• Labour Force Survey — statistics across formal and informal sectors.

Past surveys include the Labour Market Survey 2019 and Labour Market Survey 2022.

Policy framework: Labour market activity is coordinated under the Samoa National Employment Policy 2 (SNEP-2) for FY2021/22 – FY2025/26.

Browse the Labour Market reports and publications in our Document Library.

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in the private sector and state-owned enterprises is set per Cabinet Directive FK(24)25, mandated under Section 32 of the Labour and Employment Relations Amendment Act 2023 (i Gagana Samoa).

Forms & downloads

• Periodic Survey of Employment Form (PDF)
• Samoa National Employment Policy 2 (FY2021/22 – FY2025/26) (PDF)
• Labour Market Survey 2019 (PDF)
• Labour Market Survey 2022 (PDF)

MCIL Employment Portal

The MCIL Employment Portal is Samoa's national jobs platform — connecting Samoa-based employers with people seeking employment within Samoa. The portal is exclusively for vacancies located in Samoa posted by employers registered in Samoa. Job seekers can search vacancies by sector and location, build a profile, and apply directly through the portal; employers can post vacancies, review applications, and shortlist candidates.

Looking for overseas employment? The MCIL Employment Portal does not handle work abroad. Overseas employment opportunities — including the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in New Zealand and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in Australia — are administered through Samoa's separate labour mobility programme, governed by the Samoa Labour Mobility Policy 2023. See Labour Export (LEEP) for RSE and PALM applications.

Industrial Relations

We administer Samoa's industrial relations framework — the body of laws governing the relationship between employers and workers, covering minimum wage, terms and conditions of employment, leave entitlements, dismissal, and dispute mediation.

Statutory basis: Our work is governed by the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, the Labour and Employment Relations Regulations 2016, and the Labour and Employment Relations Amendment Act 2023 (i Gagana Samoa). The 2013 Act rebuilds the earlier 1972 framework with reference to International Labour Organization conventions.

The Regulations were updated in 2025 — see the Labour and Employment Relations Regulations 2025.

Who is covered: All workers and employers in the private sector — including government corporations and state-owned enterprises — are covered. Workers and employers under the Public Service Act 2004 are not covered.

How we handle grievances:

• We assess complaints and grievances formally lodged using the Grievance Form.
• Standard processing time is approximately two months.
• Extensions may be required depending on the nature of the grievance and employer cooperation.
• Our role is to advise both employers and workers of their legal obligations and to facilitate resolution.

To file a grievance, contact MCIL via the sidebar for the Grievance Form and lodging instructions.

MCIL publishes the Employee–Employer Guideline (also available i Gagana Samoa) for employers and employees seeking a plain-language overview.

Forms & downloads

• Grievance Form (PDF)
• Employee–Employer Guideline · i Gagana Samoa (PDF)

Foreign Employment Employee Permit (FEEP)

Any non-citizen wishing to work in Samoa must hold a valid Foreign Employment Employee Permit (FEEP). Employers must apply for the permit before the employee commences work. Each permit is tied to the specific employer and role.

Statutory basis: FEEPs are issued under Part IX of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, as amended by the Labour and Employment Relations Amendment Act 2023 (i Gagana Samoa).

Permit conditions: Valid for up to 3 years, subject to conditions deemed appropriate by the CEO. Each permit is non-transferable between employers or roles.

Application process:

• Employer submits the completed FEEP Application Package (checklist + form) with supporting documents.
• We review the application against local labour market demand and supply analysis.
• Approved permits are issued via an approved signed letter from the CEO, along with FEEP ID.
• The employee must also hold a valid Residence Permit — see Residence Permit.

Download the FEEP Checklist & Form. For policy detail, contact MCIL for the FEEP Policy 2017 and the FEEP Brochure 2025.

Forms & downloads

• FEEP Checklist & Form (PDF)
• FEEP Employment Agreement Form (Amendment July 2025) (PDF)
• FEEP Policy 2017 (PDF)
• FEEP Brochure 2025 (PDF)

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

We enforce Samoa's occupational safety and health regime — inspecting workplaces, investigating accidents, issuing enforcement notices, and providing training to help employers build safe, healthy working environments.

Statutory basis: Our work is governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2002 and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 2017. We chair the National OSH Taskforce, which brings together employer and employee representatives.

How to contact the OSH team: Email oshteam@mcil.gov.ws or use the sidebar contact details.

Notification of injury

Employers must notify MCIL of any workplace incident that results in more than three days off work. Submit the OSH Form 3 with details of the injury, the worker, the circumstances, and any witnesses.

Hazardous work registration

Certain high-risk activities — working at heights, with hazardous chemicals, in confined spaces, or in scheduled industries — require prior notification and/or registration with MCIL. Contact the OSH team for the current schedule of notifiable work and registration requirements.

Forms & downloads

Forms:

• Workplace Accident Notification Form (OSH Form 3) (PDF)

Overview:

• Emergency Preparedness Guide (PDF)

General OSH guides:

• A Guide for Workers (PDF)
• A Guide for Employers and Managers (PDF)

OSH guides:

• Plant Safety
• Manual Handling
• Electrical Safety
• Hazardous Substances
• Lifestyle & Wellbeing
• Psychological Safety
• Respirable Viruses
• Working at Heights

Reporting a workplace accident

All workplace accidents resulting in injury, illness, or death must be reported to MCIL within 48 hours using OSH Form 3.

Download the Workplace Accident Notification Form (OSH Form 3), complete it, and submit by email to oshteam@mcil.gov.ws or in person at MCIL.