Hundreds apply for jobs via govt’s new employment programme

Hundreds of applicants have flocked the government’s RATED (Registration, Apprenticeship, Training, Employment, and Development) programme that was launched to provide training and employment for Belongers who are unemployed and underemployed.

According to statistics from Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, 418 persons have registered with the programme since the project was approved in late November last year.

Dr Wheatley said 337 registered in the area of landscaping and field work while 79 registered in the area of administration. Twelve applicants did not qualify.

While speaking in the House of Assembly recently, the Premier said 76 persons have been placed in a job since December 2022.

And while giving a breakdown of those placements, Premier Wheatley said 59 received temporary assignments in the area of landscaping/bush cutting, six persons received temporary assignments in administration, five received temporary assignments in construction, another five persons received temporary assignments in trucking, while one person received a temporary assignment in sanitation.

He told the House of Assembly that applicants as well as employers requesting apprentices receive placements on a first come, first served basis.

“The purpose of the rotation methodology and first come, first served service is to guard against favouritism and to ensure fairness in the access to the opportunities of the programme,” the Premier stated.

“The Premier’s Office continues to prepare listings for participants under the various pathways and employers based on the order of application, and will conduct assignments accordingly. When the list is exhausted, selection will continue from the top of the list, ensuring rotation.” he added.

As for the training aspect of the programme, Dr Wheatley said the first training course in the area of electrical work is ready to commence in partnership with the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).

“I encourage persons that are interested in learning the trade of an electrician to call the Premier’s Office and register your interest so that you can be registered to participate in the upcoming training programme and to get more information,” the Premier stated.

And while noting that the RATED programme covers a wide range of job types that also includes office work, data entry, digitising records, plumbing, etcetera; Dr Wheatley said: “It is important for prospective employers to tell the government what their needs are and for job seekers to tell us what kinds of jobs they want and what kind of support they need to access these jobs, so that this information can be taken into consideration as we continue to grow the programme and to implement further phases.”