The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business

Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Labour is aiming to attract 2,000 employment seekers to its latest ‘Labour on the Blocks 2.0’ job fair this Saturday, with 45 companies ready to vet and hire as many as possible that same day.

Robert Farquharson, the Government’s labour director, said multiple businesses from key sectors of the Bahamian economy will be present at the job fair, which is being held at the Anatol Rodgers High School and targeted primarily at the South Beach and Southern Shores constituencies. Nine hotels and tourism-related businesses will be present, including Atlantis, Baha Mar, the Four Seasons Ocean Club and Blue Lagoon.

“In the construction industry, SMG Construction, Osprey Construction. We have businesses from the cruise ships, Disney Cruise Line, and we have a number of banks to come,” Mr Farquharson added. “We also have Sbarro. We have Commonwealth Brewery. We have John Bull, we have Wendy’s, Kentucky, Bamboo Shack and a number of companies from all sectors across the Bahamas.”

The Department of Labour is hoping that this latest job fair will draw double the number of persons who attended the last such event, where some 1,200 Bahamians were present. “We are prepared to serve 2,000 people. The team at the Department of Labour is ready,” said Mr Farquharson.

Leroy Major, Southern Shores MP, added: “Another feature of ‘Labour on the Blocks 2.0’ is that this event will be held in Anatol Rodgers High School on Faith Avenue. It will enable the staff of the Department of Labour to bring the public employment service unit directly to the citizens and residents of south-west New Providence, with more than 45 employers seeking to interview job seekers and hire on the spot.

“This exciting initiative program in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration promises to be the largest job fair ever.”

Keith Bell, minister for labour and immigration, added: “The team from the Department of Labour has also planned a number of other options for persons seeking employment opportunities, as well as those job seekers wishing to be better prepared to enter the labour market, including but not limited to training opportunities facilitated by the National Training Agency, BTVI (Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute), Cybertech and the National Maritime Academy…

“The job readiness programmes, dual enrolment at BTVI and access for job seekers wishing to be interviewed at the job fair.” The programme is expected to be rolled out in other areas of New Providence, and also in Grand Bahama in the near future.

Mr Farquharson said the Department of Labour wants to focus on students in grades 10 and 11 in high school so that they do not wait until their final year to decide which skills or trades to pursue.