Ministry of Labour & Social Security

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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles (centre), and Vice President of Okanagan College in Canada, Steve Koehle (left), sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as part of an agreement to secure employment for certified Jamaican workers. Assisting is Director of Manpower Services, Donna Adams, while looking on is Minister of State in the Ministry, Andrew Gallimore. The MOU will facilitate certification from the College for skilled workers. The MOU was signed at the Ministry's Heroes Circle Office, yesterday (May 12).

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Okanagan College in British Columbia, as part of an agreement to secure employment for certified Jamaican workers.

The college has been integral in providing employment and training for skilled workers from Jamaica in British Columbia.

Under the MOU, which was signed on May 12 in Kingston, trained Jamaicans will be able to apply to the British Columbia (BC) Training Authority, bypassing what is called the red seal certification, which was established to provide greater mobility across Canada for skilled workers.

Through the programme, apprentices who have completed their training, and certified journeypersons, are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their Certificates of Qualification and Apprenticeship by successfully completing an Interprovincial Standards Examination. The red seal allows qualified tradespersons to practise the trade in any province or territory in Canada where the trade is designated, without having to write further examinations.

Jamaicans, in addition to passing the interprovincial standards examination, will have to either graduate from a recognized provincial and territorial apprenticeship training programme or obtain certification from a province or territory.

"In essence, the MOU will be.that people who are trained in Jamaica can apply to BC Training Authority to challenge what is called the Red Seal certification. But in order to do that they will have to have a certain amount of training and experience here (Jamaica)," explained Vice President of the College, Professor Steve Koehle.

"They will then come to Canada, should they be accepted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, to complete their training with us to Canadian standards and they will also be having practical experience for which they will be paid while they're in Canada," he added.

Professor Koehle said that while the MOU would assure Canada and Canadian employers that Jamaican skilled workers are Canadian certified and trained, the advantage to Jamaica is much greater as the workers would not only acquire enhanced training, but will also be well paid. "The advantages for Jamaica are really two. First of all they will be earning a very good living while in Canada and will be able to save money; and secondly, they will bring back an enhanced level of skills to Jamaica so that when they come they can benefit the industries in which they work here," he said.

Minister Charles, while expressing gratitude to the College, said that the signing of the MOU will allow Jamaica to meet the global demand for trained workers.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles shares a light moment with Vice President of Okanagan College in Canada, Steve Koehle, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry and the College, at the Ministry's Heroes Circle Office on May 12.

"We want to, on behalf of the people and government, say a special thanks to Okanagan College for assisting us to train Jamaicans, not only for British Columbia but to meet this global demand that Jamaica faces right now for skilled workers," he said.

The Minister noted that the signing of the MOU should also be seen as an investment in human development. "This ministry has transformed its image from just defending the disputed workers or workers dispute, to a particular interest in human development and that is why we are so happy for a College to help us in this mission. It will help us in the transfer of skills, to meet this global demand that so many countries are participating in," he informed.

According to Professor Koehle, Okanagan College was fortunate to be located in a region of the country where there was an on-going economic boom which was resulting in an unprecedented demand for skilled workers across a range of profiles and employment areas.

"We continue to have strong economic growth and demand for workers, in addition we're entering the early to middle phases of what we will now be referring to in the press as the silver tsunami, which refers to people with grey hair who are beginning to move out of the employment world and beginning to retire in very large numbers and we simply do not have and have not been producing enough for replacements within the country itself," he explained.

The Minister pointed out that the Canadian Government, employers, and economic development commissions have been looking to have skilled workers come in from other parts of the world and so Jamaica was chosen.

"Jamaica has many skilled workers who, perhaps, would have an interest in working in the region, improving their skills both to enhance their earning power and also to enhance the development of Jamaica, and frankly with a great deal of money in their pockets, because these jobs are well paid," he pointed out, while reiterating that "we are paying a lot of money to persons who are working in skills trades, in health care, and other fields."

Mr. Charles gave the assurance that the Ministry was "ready and willing to supply Jamaican workers."

"Let us be frank and fair, this does not come very often and this government has tried to provide jobs to the Jamaican people.you can depend on us to use our best efforts to select the best workers," he said.

Professor Koehle indicated that the College was not a recruiting agency, but an educational institution that was seeking to help Jamaican workers with training so that they could be more marketable within Canada, Jamaica, and the rest of the world.

"Our role is to help Jamaican workers who have training and experience here, to acquire internationally recognized credentials," he explained.

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