About this module
At Level 1 you were a guest at the workplace. At Level 2 you are a team member: trusted with more, expected to plan, and ready to help those coming behind you.
Who it is for. Trainees who have finished Workplace Experience Learning (Level 1) and a Level 1 trade module, on a longer placement. National Proficiency II leads on to National Certificate I.
CTVET status. CTVET has guidelines for workplace experience learning coordinators and assessors, but they are not online. This module is not a CTVET curriculum.
Why this matters
A 2025 national survey found serious problems with workplace learning: many trainees had no access to relevant workplaces or PPE, a third rated it ineffective, and 27% of learners received no feedback. The report recommends mentoring, orientation on safety and employability, and monitoring. This module puts those fixes in your hands.
Bridge from Level 1: what you already know
- PPE is free and must be worn; you may leave imminent danger
- Normal hours are 8 a day and 40 a week, with breaks
- No hazardous work under 18
- A written placement agreement; disputes go to the district labour officer
- What harassment is and where to report it
- Daily logbook signed weekly; ask for feedback every Friday
- Competent / Not Yet Competent; portfolio basics; RPL exists
- Business registration and support basics
Bridge check. Your coordinator asks you five questions from Level 1. If you score under 4, re-read Level 1 Unit 1 before your placement starts.
Level 1 did not cover social security (SSNIT) or whether workers' compensation covers trainees. Unit 1 covers SSNIT.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent.
Unit 1 · Your rights as a worker
The closer you get to a real job, the more you need to know the law that protects workers.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Check a contract | explains the main contract terms and checks their own agreement |
| 1.2 Know pay and hours | states minimum wage, hours, rest, leave and overtime rules |
| 1.3 Know SSNIT and reporting | explains SSNIT and where to report problems |
Range. Own placement agreement or contract. Evidence. Contract checklist; pay sums.
Contracts
Under the Labour Act:
- Work for six months or more needs a written contract, and the employer must give a written statement of the main terms within two months.
- Notice must be in writing: one month for contracts of three years or more, two weeks for shorter contracts, seven days for week-to-week work.
- A worker may end a contract because of ill-treatment or sexual harassment.
- Discrimination because of gender or disability is banned.
Pay, hours and leave
- At least 15 working days' paid leave a year; agreements to give up leave are void.
- 12 hours' rest between working days and 48 hours' rest every seven days.
- Overtime cannot be required unless the firm has set overtime rates.
- Casual workers get the full minimum pay for every day they attend; a temporary worker kept for six months or more is treated as permanent.
- Maternity leave is at least 12 weeks on full pay.
The national daily minimum wage is GH¢21.77 for 2026, up 9%, and Parliament has exempted the minimum wage from income tax. Check the rate each new year.
SSNIT
Social security contributions total 18.5% of basic salary. Self-employed people can join through SSNIT's self-employed scheme with flexible contributions; over 103,000 had joined by August 2024.
Reporting
Level 1 gave the reporting routes for harassment. Current laws fail many victims of "sex for jobs", so report early and keep records.
Pay sum
You work as a casual worker for 22 days in a month. What is the minimum you must be paid?
Contract check
- Read your placement agreement or contract with the checklist.
- Write any missing items and ask your coordinator.
SSNIT
Find out how a self-employed person registers with SSNIT.
Unit 2 · Work on your own: plan, solve, report
Limited supervision means your supervisor trusts you to plan, solve small problems and report back.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Plan your work | plans daily and weekly tasks and meets deadlines |
| 2.2 Solve and escalate | solves routine problems and escalates others correctly |
| 2.3 Report | writes short reports and job records |
Range. Every working day. Evidence. Weekly plans; problem log; reports.
Your duties
The Labour Act says workers must work conscientiously, report on time, take care, obey lawful instructions, care for co-workers' safety and protect the employer's property.
Employers want technical skill plus communication, teamwork, problem solving and adaptability.
Solve or escalate?
| Solve it yourself | Tell your supervisor |
|---|---|
| Routine, you have done it before | New, unclear or risky |
| No safety risk | Any safety risk |
| Small cost | Costly materials or a customer complaint |
A short report
- Date and task
- What was done
- Problems and what you did
- What is needed next
Weekly plan
- Write a plan every Monday and review it every Friday.
- Keep a problem log: what happened, solved or escalated.
- Write one short report a week for your supervisor.
Reflect
Which problem this week did you solve alone? What did you learn?
Unit 3 · Safety leadership on the job
Every worker must take care of the people working beside them.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Care for others | carries out the duty to protect co-workers |
| 3.2 Check before work | runs a pre-task hazard check and a short toolbox talk |
| 3.3 Report incidents | reports incidents and near-misses in writing |
Range. The host workplace. Evidence. Hazard checks; toolbox talk; incident reports.
The law
Workers must take reasonable care for fellow workers' safety, and employers must keep workers free from risk. Ghana's occupational safety bill had still not been passed by 2026. Reported workplace deaths rose from 23 to 37 between 2021 and 2022, and many are never reported. Workmen's compensation covers injured workers, including casual and temporary workers.
A five-minute toolbox talk
- What job are we doing today?
- What could hurt us?
- How do we prevent it? (PPE, guards, signs)
- What do we do if something goes wrong?
- Any questions?
Lead on safety
- Do a hazard check before one task each day.
- Give one toolbox talk a week.
- Report any near-miss in writing.
Near-miss
Describe a near-miss you saw and how it could be prevented.
Unit 4 · Guide a newer trainee
Teaching someone else is one of the best ways to master your own skill.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Show and check | shows a task step by step and checks understanding |
| 4.2 Give feedback | gives respectful feedback and keeps a coaching record |
| 4.3 Know the limits | follows safeguarding rules and calls the supervisor when needed |
Range. One newer trainee. Evidence. Coaching record; supervisor observation.
Why coaching
Self-employed graduates often take on up to three apprentices. Master craftspersons have been trained as trainers in competency-based training and RPL.
Show, do, check
- Show: do the task slowly and explain each step.
- Do: let the newer trainee do it while you watch.
- Check: ask questions and praise what is right; correct one thing at a time.
Coaching limits.
- Never let an under-18 use machines or chemicals.
- Never sign off another trainee's competence; only assessors do.
- Never be alone one-to-one with a younger trainee out of sight.
- If someone tells you about harm, tell the coordinator at once. Do not promise secrecy.
Coach
- Coach a newer trainee on one task using show, do, check.
- Record what you taught and how they did.
- Ask your supervisor to observe one session.
Feedback
Write how you gave feedback, and how you would improve it.
Unit 5 · Feedback, appraisal and your portfolio
Your portfolio is the proof of what you can do. Build it as you go.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Take part in reviews | takes part in mid- and end-of-placement reviews |
| 5.2 Reflect | keeps a reflective journal |
| 5.3 Build a portfolio | builds a portfolio good enough for NC I or RPL |
Range. The whole placement. Evidence. Review forms; journal; portfolio.
A good portfolio
Evidence must be valid, authentic, current, sufficient and reliable. It can be direct (things you made or did), indirect (testimonials) or historical (past work). "RPL thrives on a good portfolio". You can also earn a Certificate of Competence for selected units.
Reflective journal
Each week write:
- What happened?
- What did I learn?
- What will I do next time?
Portfolio
- Add photos (with permission), signed job sheets and supervisor comments weekly.
- Keep your reflective journal.
- Complete your mid- and end-of-placement reviews.
Gap check
Which unit of your trade module has the least evidence in your portfolio?
Unit 6 · Get hired: CV, interview, job search
Skills get you hired only if employers can see them.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Write a CV | writes a one-page CV and gets references |
| 6.2 Interview | answers common questions in a mock interview |
| 6.3 Search safely | uses job platforms and networks and spots scams |
Range. Own CV; one mock interview. Evidence. CV; interview feedback; scam checklist.
The job market
- In a 2022 survey, 65% of TVET graduates found work within a year and 77% within two years, but 18% never found a job.
- Jobberman offers free soft-skills courses, a CV assistant and job alerts. On 7 October 2026 it listed 122 jobs in Takoradi and the Western Region, mostly office jobs and only one internship. Trade jobs come mostly through hosts, master craftspersons and networks.
- YouStart has ended.
One-page CV
- Name, phone, town (no Ghana Card number)
- One-line summary of your trade
- Skills and certificates
- Placement and work experience with dates
- Two references (your host supervisor and coordinator)
Spot a job scam
- Never pay a "recruiter" before checking they are a licensed agency
- Licensed agencies must refund half their fee if they find you no job in three months
- Never send your Ghana Card or MoMo PIN
- Check any "job abroad" offer before you travel
Get hired
- Write a one-page CV.
- Ask your host for a reference.
- Do a mock interview with your coordinator.
Job search
Find three jobs or openings that suit you and how to apply.
Unit 7 · Work for yourself in the Western Region
Many graduates do best working for themselves. Start small, register, and grow.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Choose an idea | chooses a business that fits local demand |
| 7.2 Register | lists ORC, Assembly and SSNIT registration steps |
| 7.3 Market and grow | markets the business and names next steps |
Range. Own business idea. Evidence. Business plan; registration checklist.
Western Region opportunities
- The Western Region is the base of Ghana's oil and gas industry, and local content rules aim to give local businesses a share.
- Takoradi Technical Institute runs green competency-based training in recycling and other trades, and accredits workplace learning with Jospong. About 200 companies are accredited by CTVET for workplace learning.
- The National Apprenticeship Programme gives free 6–12 month training with master craftspersons and start-up kits, open to women and persons with disabilities. It began with a target of 10,000 youth.
Register
- Register your business name with the ORC; its Takoradi office is on Ketan Road.
- Every business must register with the Sekondi-Takoradi Assembly. Trades such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical work pay about GH¢100 a year, and unregistered operators pay a 30% penalty.
- Join SSNIT as self-employed (see Unit 1).
New businesses are held back most by start-up money, tools and workspace. Start with what you have.
Location settings that give good returns
- Near the oil and gas, port and industrial areas of Takoradi
- Busy roads and markets where people need your trade
- New estates and building sites
- Near your host employer, who may send you work
Business ideas and ingenuity
- Subcontract to your host employer
- Offer maintenance contracts to offices, schools and estates
- Take on apprentices once established
- Join a trade association for shared jobs and tools
Market yourself
- Your portfolio photos on WhatsApp Business.
- References from your host.
- Arrive on time, finish on time, and leave the site clean.
Accessibility
The Labour Act gives incentives to employers of persons with disabilities and to persons with disabilities in business. The Disability Act bans job discrimination, and a stronger bill awaits Parliament. Over half of TVET institutions have learners with special needs. Agree reasonable adjustments with your host before placement, and write them into your agreement.
See also the Hub's Entrepreneurial Thinking, Money Skills, Workplace Safety and Inclusive Training manuals.
Business plan
- Choose a business idea and say who will pay.
- Make a registration checklist with costs.
- Write a one-page plan.
Talk to a master craftsperson
Ask how they started their business and what they would do differently.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Escalate | Pass a problem to your supervisor |
| Near-miss | An event that could have hurt someone but did not |
| Portfolio | A collection of evidence of your skills |
| Reflective journal | Weekly notes on what you learned |
| SSNIT | Social Security and National Insurance Trust |
| Toolbox talk | A short safety talk before work |
Logbook
- Unit 1: contract checklist; pay sums
- Unit 2: weekly plans; problem log; reports
- Unit 3: hazard checks; toolbox talks; incident reports
- Unit 4: coaching record
- Unit 5: reviews; reflective journal; portfolio
- Unit 6: CV; interview feedback
- Unit 7: business plan; registration checklist
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- When must you get a written contract?
- How many days of paid leave a year must a worker get?
- What is the 2026 daily minimum wage?
- What do you do with a risky or unfamiliar problem?
- What are the five steps of a toolbox talk?
- What are show, do, check?
- Name two coaching limits.
- What five qualities must portfolio evidence have?
- Name two signs of a job scam.
- Name three things you must register for your own business.
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: your Level 1 manual; your trade manual; the Labour Act, 2003; the Hub's Entrepreneurial Thinking and Money Skills manuals.
What this module does not cover: trade skills (see your trade manual), National Service, and pensions in detail.
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.