PNG CR Services is boosting female participation in the country’s construction sector through its Wok Meri Strong Program, a structured workforce development initiative integrated into the company’s project delivery model.
The program is designed to increase meaningful and sustainable participation of women across PNG CR’s construction and infrastructure projects. It provides safe, supported pathways into an industry traditionally dominated by men, focusing on paid, on-the-job training combined with mentoring and formal skills development. Participants gain real-world experience while meeting industry safety, quality, and governance standards.
The program primarily targets female Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates and entry-level candidates. Participants are placed on live project sites, working under the supervision of experienced professionals. This approach ensures practical exposure to the realities of construction work rather than short-term or symbolic placements.
PNG CR Services’ Managing Director, Allan Tyson, said Wok Meri Strong reflects the company’s commitment to long-term national capability building. “The program moves beyond compliance-based gender targets to create a skilled and confident female workforce that can contribute meaningfully to Papua New Guinea’s infrastructure development,” he said.
Training includes comprehensive site induction and health, safety, and environment (HSE) instruction, alongside trade-specific skills development in areas such as carpentry, civil works, painting, logistics, and site administration. Participants also receive soft-skills training and ongoing mentoring from senior supervisors.
A key feature of Wok Meri Strong is its structured rotation system, which allows participants to work across different project areas. This exposure provides insight into project planning, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) processes, and overall site operations, broadening participants’ technical knowledge and professional confidence.
Beyond technical training, the program incorporates safeguarding, workplace wellbeing, and leadership development components. These elements are designed to ensure women can progress confidently and sustainably within the construction sector, while also being supported in transitioning into long-term employment or further TVET up-skilling.
The program recently supported four TVET graduates from PNG Women in Construction, providing structured on-the-job training during November–December. Participants gained practical skills and a clear pathway into long-term employment in the construction industry. Currently, female graduates are active across four project sites in PNG, and PNG CR Services plans to welcome an additional 20 graduates next year.
By embedding Wok Meri Strong directly into its project operations, PNG CR Services positions the program as a legacy initiative—supporting women today while contributing to a stronger, more inclusive construction workforce for the future.
