Mr. Speaker,
The Government is committed to addressing the unemployment crisis by supporting training initiatives to strengthen and meet the demands of Bermuda’s workforce.
We recognize that providing access to training opportunities to retool and upskill, strategically positions individuals on a path to re-enter the workforce and develop sustainable careers. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to share with this Honorable House, an update on the Ministry’s Re-employment Strategy facilitated by the Department of Workforce Development.
Mr. Speaker,
You are aware that there has been considerable job loss since the onset of the pandemic. Consequently, many Bermudians now find themselves unemployed and may experience difficulty in their efforts to renter the workforce. In response, the Ministry of Labour developed a reemployment strategy with an overarching focus on employer engagement and creating training programmes to help get Bermudians back to work.
Mr. Speaker,
To this end, I am pleased to report that the Department of Workforce Development has developed and will sponsor several training programmes which will benefit displaced workers. Additionally, a number of the training programmes are directly aligned with the Department of Immigration’s work permit job category classifications and moratorium, which were recently announced, including commercial cleaners, administrative assistants, and landscape gardeners.
Mr. Speaker,
I will now share a detailed list of training and development programmes that the Department of Workforce Development will offer:
- Cleaning Technician Training Programme – an accredited training course for residential and commercial cleaning technicians;
- Administrative Assistant Training Programme – a recognized certification that equips participants with the competencies required of administrative professionals for office management and business administration in the 21st century;
- Horticulture Training Programme – a certificate training programme in basic horticulture which equips participants with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for careers in the landscape and horticulture industries;
- Learn-to-Earn Restaurant Training Programme – a paid, rigorous, on-the-job training programme designed to develop talent for the restaurant industry. This public-private-partnership training initiative is back by popular demand.
- Food & Beverage Waiter Server Training Programme – an entry level, paid on-the-job training programme designed to train talent in the restaurant and hospitality sectors;
- Computer Literacy Training – an accredited course which provides participants with computer literacy skills in Microsoft Suite.
- Digital Literacy for Administrative Professionals – a certificate course in digital literacy to ensure individuals are equipped with technical skills in the Microsoft Office 365 Suite of products; and the
- Graduate Trainee Programme – aims to provide paid work experience for unemployed, recent Bermudian College and University graduates in their area of study.
Mr. Speaker,
Funding for all training programmes will be considered for individuals in need.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our industry partners and training providers for their commitment and work with the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Workforce Development to ensure that Bermudians are adequately trained and positioned for employment opportunities. I would also like to thank the team at the Department of Workforce Development for the work that they continue to do to ensure Bermudians return to work. They have worked tirelessly since the onset of the pandemic and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Mr. Speaker,
In closing, I invite Bermudians who are unemployed and underemployed to take advantage of these training and development programmes by registering with the Department of Workforce Development. Registration for the opportunities will open Monday, November 16th on the Bermuda Job Board www.bermudajobboard.bm. Alternatively, persons may call 297-7714 to express their interest.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.