Ministry of Labor looks to develop employability strategy at forthcoming Conference
Labor Minister Joseph Hamilton.
Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Labor’s Industrial Training Board (BIT) is looking at developing a National Strategy that would address employability issues as it relates to youth, people with disabilities, retirees, university students and criminals non-violence and vocational education at a two-day National Conference slated for March.
This was confirmed during a meeting held on Monday, with Labor Minister Joseph Hamilton; BIT CEO Richard Maughn; Chairman of BIT, David Armagon and several other stakeholders where it was agreed to set up a steering committee to deliver the two-day event.
The aim of the conference is to share experiences and receive information from the beneficiaries of training programs operated by BIT and other national agencies and develop a conceptual framework specific to national contexts to inform labor market requirements.
The information gained from the conference would be used to inform the design and implementation of training and educational programs that match labor needs in an increasingly dynamic and challenging market.
Therefore, it is necessary to engage in the discussion with the labor market as it would qualify and adapt, refine and define the type of training that the Ministry provides and approves to increase the for Guyanese and its employability.
During the meeting, Minister Hamilton highlighted that the conference will address the nation’s current and future training needs, particularly as new industries emerge.
The Minister added that although training institutes across the country have different curricula, they work in isolation and, in some cases, provide training that is no longer relevant to the particular region. “The Linden Technical Institute which could still be training people for a boxed industry that existed 30 years ago, so they have to think new things,” said the Minister.
In conclusion, the committee will consist of officials from the Ministry and BIT; Ministry of Education; University of Guyana; Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA); the Private Sector; labour unions; and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council (CTVET).