Labour Dept. to aggressively assist unemployed VIslanders
Hon. Pickering divulged the plan after a resident suggested that the Labour department should advertise vacancies, and in turn place the most qualified persons for those jobs, instead of placing that responsibility with an employer who may have someone already lined up but is just going through the motions.
Hon. Pickering agreed and noted there is the need for an employment agency, since most of the jobs advertised are through the classified in the newspapers.
The Labour Minster added, “The bigger problem is those persons looking for a job and what we don’t have a structure in place that allow for individuals seeking jobs. We are going to redefine the physical space in the Labour Department where one section of the department actually speaks openly about employment issues. So when you go to the Labour Department you will know that is the section for people who are looking for a job. You will see a sign there.
“We have already begun putting things in place to have specific members of staff deal with that issue, and then we will deal with the legal requirement where it clearly states that locals must be first preference for a job. It is our responsibility to help our people access or find the jobs.”
Meanwhile, another resident asked what was the unemployment rate in the Virgin Islands (VI), however, Deputy Labour Commissioner Stephanie Williams stated that figure will be available in another few weeks.
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