BIT to address Mahdia skills gaps
Minister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton, and a team, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Mr. Richard Maughn are currently in Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) to address several employment matters.
The team engaged persons from the business sector at the Mahdia Secondary School.
The stakeholders requested assistance to improve the labour force in Mahdia so they could source skills from within the region, instead of having to hire persons from outside.
In response, Mr. Maughn said the BIT is mandated to tackle labour and workforce development.
“We will be happy to sit down with you so that you can tell us the skills or competency gaps or shortages you are experiencing so that we can train persons to [meet] those needs,” the CEO said.
He also told the entrepreneurs that workers in the hotel and hospitality industry would be trained to improve their skills to serve the sector better.
“We are here to listen to you, the business owners and design programmes that will be beneficial for the growth of your business and the economy. In keeping with the Ministry of Labour’s fundamental objectives, in the area of capacity building, BIT’s first priority is to strengthen the gap between manpower and employers’ needs,” Mr. Maughn said.
The labour minister and his team are currently hosting outreaches countrywide to tackle labour deficiencies.
Last Friday, the team visited Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) where they met more than 100 persons at the Fort Wellington Regional Democratic Council (RDC), providing opportunities for persons to register for future technical and vocational training programmes.