Job Ops gives young man vital first job

Derwin Randle, 22, is working at Crystal Ashley under the Job Ops scheme. Photo / Dean Purcell

Derwin Randle has spent two years studying hospitality, tourism and culinary art. But right now he's glad to have a minimum-wage job in a factory.

Mr Randle, 22, who came here from the Philippines with his parents 12 years ago, is one of the first 55 people hired under the Government's new Job Ops subsidy scheme.

He earns $12.50 an hour in a 40-hour job operating a machine that is programmed to cut unique designs for wall art in a Pakuranga workshop.

He estimates that he applied for two or three jobs every week since he graduated from AUT last November.

He tried for hospitality jobs in restaurants and the casino, but got only four or five interviews and no job.

"It's pretty hard because they want people with two or three years' experience," he said.

"So right now I'm just taking any job that's available to get some experience, even if it's not in the hospitality industry."

He started at Crystal Ashley on Wednesday last week and is happy so far. "I quite like it."

His employers, Burmese-born designer Nandar Thwin and her Malaysian husband David Tan, work alongside him with only one other employee, a Burmese refugee.

Mrs Thwin told Work and Income work broker Luke Morunga that she was willing to take on other refugees.

"When I talked to Luke I said I felt that for Pakeha Kiwis it's easier to find jobs than it is for refugees, Burmese or other nationalities," she said.

The couple started their business two years ago making children's furniture, but found that the biggest demand was for wall art - Kiwiana souvenirs and often-personalised wall decorations for children's bedrooms and other rooms in the house.

"Previously, only three of us were doing all right, but now there are a lot more trade shows coming up and even our old customers are starting to order again. I don't know, maybe the economy is starting to come back," Mrs Thwin said.

She normally would have asked around to find a new worker by "word of mouth", but when she heard about the $5000 Job Ops subsidy she wrote to Social Development Minister Paula Bennett to ask if she could apply for it. Mr Morunga replied almost immediately.

"I wasn't expecting to go this quickly, but we really needed someone so it was really good that I was able to get someone within a few days."