The Tribune

The government is renewing its 52-week jobs initiative with a pledge to “re-engage” those of the 1,000 participants who received “satisfactory” reports from their employers and ministries.

Brensil Rolle, pictured, minister of public service and National Insurance, said in a statement that hundreds have been re-hired for the initiative’s second year with effect from July 8.

He added that 1,000 persons have benefited from the National Job Creation and Skills Enhancement programme, which started in August 2018 and came to an end on June 30, 2019.

“Because of the hard work performed by the programme’s participants and the feedback we’ve received from the employers, the government has decided to renew the programme for another year,” said Mr Rolle.

“We made a commitment that we would re-engage all participants who received a satisfactory report from the various government ministries and departments, and the private sector.”

Mr Rolle said his ministry is in the process of issuing re-hiring letters to participants who are scheduled to return to work on Monday, 8 July.

The government-led initiative was established to provide unemployed persons between the ages of 19 and 30 with hands-on skills aimed at enhancing their ability to find gainful employment.

It is designed to include elements of classroom learning through partnerships with the Ministry of Education and the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI); paid internships in the areas of construction, plumbing, electrical installation, hospitality, fashion design, business and information technology; and opportunities for professional certifications.

The National Training Agency provides participants with soft skills and hospitality training, while BTVI provides additional workforce readiness training and a 22-week internship with independent professionals. Private sector companies provide training for participants in a variety of areas, including law, construction, customer service and home maintenance.

Mr. Rolle said participants were placed in the public and private sectors in New Providence, Grand Bahama and all of the Family Islands.

He estimated that about 200 participants, engaged by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Passport Office and the Registrar General’s Department, will work through the week-long break due to the demands of the agencies.

Mr Rolle said many participants have been offered full-time employment in the private sector, and government ministries and departments - including the Water and Sewerage Corporation and the National Insurance Board (NIB) - as a result of the initiative.