First-ever Youth Employment Drive a success, attracts hundreds
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6W044YP5B8″ width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ calls made for a quarterly employment drive
DPI, Guyana, Friday, April 12, 2019
“Providing young people, the opportunity to meet representatives of various companies, definitely shows that the ministry is aware that they need jobs and are taking steps to address this is very good. It’s a great initiative and I hope to continue seeing more of it.” This was the view of Rene Beaton, an applicant at the first Youth Employment Drive hosted by the Department of Social Cohesion.
Shanai Gomes, another applicant, said “As I was coming in, I saw the long line, and one of my friends who works at the ministry said over 700 youths were actually registered. And for 700 to be interested in a first-time event, you could just imagine what would happen if it happens every three to six months. So yes, I love the initiative.”
Sharing her opinion on the exercise, Nashava Thompson said, “I think it was thought out. We can use more of these in Guyana, and thanks to the CRMA [Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency], my application is in, so if job vacancies pop up, if I’m not fortunate to be hired by one of the companies here today, they can always call if a vacancy is available that suits my qualification. Kudos to the ministry.”
Businesses that supported the Youth Employment Drive included Qualfon Guyana Incorporated, Courts Guyana, Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Giftland Mall and the Masterclass Institute.
This is the first such initiative of the Department of Youth. Senior Research, Planning and Development Officer, Adeti DeJesus said, “there are a number of initiatives to address the youth unemployment issue but we recognise that we need to address it from the standpoint of training and education.”
She said this event was hosted in light of the high employment rate in Guyana, and the department has been advocating for events of this nature to be held quarterly where the department will provide space for companies to get onboard and interested persons can attend interviews, also receive advice on some of the employment opportunities available.
DeJesus further explained that persons who were not registered online, would have been directed to register with the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) who would then take all the necessary information; this includes contact information, open application letters, certificates, curriculum vitae, ID, TIN certificate and police clearance where necessary. Once the data has been collected and a vacancy is made available, a suitable candidate for the position will be contacted.
This initiative correlates with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) eight; Decent Work and Economic Growth, which promotes sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation by encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation. These are effective measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the goal is to achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and men by 2030.
Kipenie Jordan.
Images: Keno George.