The Guam Department of Labor helped educate hundreds of students about workplace rights during the fourth annual career fair at Oceanview Middle School last week.
Staff from GDOL’s Fair Employment Practice Division participated in the event, speaking with students about protections they will have when they eventually enter the workforce.
More than 25 agencies from government, federal, private and nonprofit organizations attended the fair. Participating groups included the Guam Department of Corrections, Guam Department of Agriculture, Guam Fire Department and the Federal Aviation Administration, along with community partners such as Victims Advocate for Reaching Out.
“Our division’s goal is to equip students with the knowledge they need to recognize their rights in the workplace before they start their first job,” said Acting GDOL Director Gerard Toves. He said the outreach aims to help young workers understand protections against discrimination, harassment and other workplace violations.
Fair Employment Practice Division Administrator Jeffrey Sablan said the strong turnout and student engagement demonstrated the importance of early education about labor protections.
“The students who stopped by our booth asked thoughtful questions about their rights when they enter the workforce in the future,” Sablan said. “Seeing so many young people engaged and interested in learning how to protect themselves in the workplace shows us that this kind of outreach is truly making a difference.”
During the event, GDOL staff discussed fair hiring practices, age-appropriate employment, safe working conditions, and protections against discrimination and retaliation. Students also learned how to report workplace concerns and the role GDOL plays in enforcing labor laws.
Officials said the Fair Employment Practice Division plans to continue visiting middle and high schools across Guam to promote long-term awareness of worker protections and fair treatment in the workplace.