Labour flooded with requests for ‘skilled workers’
Construction site on Tortola. (BVI News photo)
The Department of Labour continues to receive ‘numerous requests’ for skilled workers in the construction and marine industries, said Labour Commissioner Janice Rymer.
A media release from government also said requests are primarily coming from local employers in these industries.
With this high demand for workers, government is making fresh calls for locals to enrol in construction classes at H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).
“This is a prime opportunity for BVIslanders/Belongers who are unemployed or underemployed following the passages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria to consider a new career path, register for the courses and assist with the rebuilding efforts,” government said in the media release.
Classes are being offered at the Tortola and Virgin Gorda campuses from April 6 to June 6 for construction courses, and from April 10 to19 for marine courses.
Registration for classes is from April 3 to April 6 at either college campuses or at the Labour Department, which has partnered with HLSCC.
Interested applicants on Tortola are being told to visit the department’s Wickham’s Cay II location on the first floor of the Ashley Ritter Building.
Persons on Virgin Gorda can apply for classes in Conference Room B on the second floor of the Vanterpool Building.
HLSCC is offering the following courses:
Construction (April 6 to June 6)
Basic Roof Installation & Repair, Installation and Replacing Doors, Installation & Replacing Windows, Construction & Repair Overview for Homeowners, Managing Construction Projects, Basic Construction Installation, Refreshers Course for Builders, Basic Electricity (House Wiring), Basic Plumbing, and Generator Maintenance & Repair.
Marine Courses (April 10 to 19)
Marine Painting & Varnishing, Outboard Engine Maintenance, and Sailboat Rigging.
Orientation for this course will be held at Nanny Cay on April 5.
In the meantime, employers in marine and construction industries are being encouraged to continue contacting the Labour Department if they require assistance in finding workers.
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Please note. Doing and complete a training course don’t make you a skill worker. But atleast a start. First you must like what you do. I’m not hiring any hurricane trades man. I do hire hurricane labourers. Skill don’t come over night.
How does one know that these people are indeed “Skilled” workers? Are there any among them who can cut stone properly?
Since when did the Labour Department care about the best interests of the country?
What shall we do to today ? Enroll in a training course or get the scooters with the loud exhausts out and go round intimidating people?
I look forward to seeing the long lines of applicants outside the college.
Need to get out in the community and share information on these opportunities.
A construction apprenticeship in the UK is four years, I don’t think the island can wait that long to start rebuilding, we need construction workers now. Historically we have seen few if any locals working on building sites and keeping workers from entering the island in the belief it will create employment for locals is ridiculous, we need hundreds if not thousands to repair the infrastructure and 7,000 damaged properties. If we want the cruise ships and tourists to return, get the territory rebuilt and stop the descriminatory behavior at labor.
And some are trying to charge double the rate as before Irma.
This picture tells it all . The correct way with professional scaffold and the wrong way with the 2×4 dangerous wood scaffold.
You are so correct. Hmm.
So the other week there was talk from Government that the hurricane had made it apparent that the quality of building practices needs to be addresses and better quality building was required. This is going to be addresses by sending people to college for a week and then they are “skilled Workers” HAHAHAHAHA I love BVI gov. Next week they are going to address the jelly and custard mountain issue
It would be interesting to know how many young people or even older people signed up for these courses. Not so much I bet!