Minister Minors On Job Corps, Work Permits
[Updated with video] Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors provided an update about initiatives mentioned in the recent Throne Speech, speaking on topics including the Job Corps programme and work permits.
“Some will already be aware that Job Corps is a free education and training programme that helps young people gain self confidence, prepare for a career, earn a GED and excel in a profession,” said Minister Minors.
“The programme employs a holistic career development training approach which integrates the teaching of academic, vocational, employability skills and social competencies through a combination of classroom, practical and work based learning experiences.”
The Minister said the programme will be held at the Harmony Club, and the capital development project will cost in the region of $6 million dollars, and the annual operating budget will range between $5 and $6 million.
Intended to be a public-private initiative, Minister Minors said they will soon embark on an “aggressive campaign to secure the funding necessary to move this programme forward.”
Minister Minors also spoke on work permits saying the 2012 Work Permit Policies being prepared for implementation contain a “number of policies that are favourable to the interest of local and international business partners.”
“The new policy recognizes that we live in a global marketplace and positions Bermuda to compete more effectively,” said Minister Minors.
Minister Minors full statement follows below:
Good afternoon:
I’m pleased to provide further information about the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and its programmes and initiatives that will evolve during the course of this legislative season.
Our aim as Government, as you are already aware, is to build prosperous and successful neighborhoods.
To achieve this, not only have we set out to use economic empowerment tools but also to regenerate positive community values through the development of the Community Councils Act as was recently shared. I expect that the policy work will be completed in the coming months and the Bill prepared thereafter.
But, ladies and gentleman, our efforts cannot stop with reforming and reshaping the Parish Councils.
Strengthening the social fabric of our society means attending to a number of factors which include redirecting our young people and giving them the tools that they require to be productive which is why we are focused on advancing the Job Corps initiative.
Yes, I have read the criticism with respect to the time taken to advance this initiative however this is an initiative that requires a great deal of planning to ensure effective implementation. You will be aware that the Ministry, as a part of Phase 1 committed to using the current budget year to consult with stakeholders and to complete a full operations plan and manual, business plan and procedures manual. Odle International was contracted to assist with Phase 1 – the Programme Development Phase and this work has now been completed.
As a result, my Ministry is currently engaged in the public consultation phase.
We have already hosted one public meeting and next week on Tuesday, 13th November at 7:00 p.m. we will host a west end public meeting at Heron Bay School. Also, on Thursday, 15th November at 7:00 p.m. we will host an east end public meeting, at Bethel A.M.E Church.
It is important that the public is given the opportunity to provide their views and input prior to moving this initiative into Phase three because as I’ve said, it is imperative that we get it right.
Some will already be aware that Job Corps is a free education and training programme that helps young people gain self confidence, prepare for a career, earn a GED and excel in a profession.
The programme employs a holistic career development training approach which integrates the teaching of academic, vocational, employability skills and social competencies through a combination of classroom, practical and work based learning experiences to prepare young adults for stable, long-term, high-paying jobs. This programme is being designed as a residential programme and Harmony Club, in consultation with the Bermuda Housing Corporation, has been identified as the venue.
Early estimates suggest that the capital development project will cost in the region of $6 million dollars, which is of course a one-off cost. Job Corps’ annual operating budget will range between $5 and $6 million.
The community will recall that this is intended to be a public-private initiative and we will soon embark on Phase 3 which is an aggressive campaign to secure the funding necessary to move this programme forward.
It is my belief that collectively, we, the government and the private sector, will work together to prepare our young people to make a meaningful contribution both socially and professionally, resulting in jobs that “they” can be proud of and productive young people that “Bermuda” can be proud of.
As it relates to jobs, let me be clear, this government is committed to retaining jobs and to stimulating the creation of new jobs.
The 2012 Work Permit Policies being prepared for implementation contain a number of policies that are favourable to the interest of local and international business partners.
The community can expect a balanced policy, one that is designed to create mutually beneficial conditions for the establishment of new businesses in Bermuda and one that also makes it easy for businesses that have moved to other jurisdictions to return.
The new policy recognizes that we live in a global marketplace and positions Bermuda to compete more effectively.
To this end, I expect that the stakeholder group that has been working collaborative with the Ministry will receive the second draft of the 2012 Work Permit Policies within the next week for any final comments and or proposed amendments.
I expect that the new policy will be implemented soon thereafter.
Thank you.E
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No detail. Useless.
How much detail is the Minister expected to give in a press conference? As indicated in her statement, there is a Business Plan and public consultation process by which I am certain more detail may be ascertained. Yes it is an election period, and likely the press call has something to do with that. We’ll await to see the release of the work permit policy…..
WHATEEEVUUUUUR LISA! When OBA is elected next month any contract signed with PLP will be null & void. Beside Bermuda doesn’t have six million to give you. Don’t you know this or did you flunk you’re GED?
For the record Tommy…my name is not Lisa, I am not a female and do not run US consultancy. I am young Bermudian male who has simply cared to collect the facts before spewing off and like you, I’m sure, care about the future of our country.
So, If you have collected the “facts” why is it that you have not seen the facts that show the Job Corps program PLP has chosen to go with is not the original one set up by Lyndon Johnson’s administration but a clone run by a private firm Odle Management. This private firm has a history of overcharging hence the six million price tag & small success rate if you look at the American States that have used this firm. This is the problem with PLP historically using expensive outside sources to do the legwork for them. A Bermudian clone of the Job Corps could be set up with a little coordination at a much lower cost but PLP want the quick & easy way out despite what it will cost tax payers. All it boils down to is another electioneering ploy. As a young Bermudian you should be on point in noticing that the demographics of our work force has changed dramatically in a one sided fashion by the thousands while we have thousands unemployed or unable to get full time positions. MIf it keeps going this way it will become the norm & no matter what qualifications you have under your belt employers will find an excuse to hire a foreigner over you. This is the fault of immigration & since immigration is run by the government in turn its the fault of PLP. Globalization is just a poor excuse employers use but if you take a look at the countries making it through the recession they are the ones tightening up on their work permit policies not the ones allowing all areas of the work force be overrun by foreigners. Of course we still need IB but statistically the percentage of GED graduates that go on to get IB jobs is slim to none. Lets be realistic because we already have the ability to get a GED here without job corps & many do but still are not granted a position even in the most remedial task positions.
Bizarre – A $5-6 million budget to provide training that would otherwise be completely unnecessary if the current policies and expenditure on public education (including Bermuda College) and associated counseling were effective? The money spent on remediation for ineffective programs might be acceptable if there was an open recognition that the problem exists and is being fixed. What a waste – and the most important sound bites, i.e. how are we going to intelligently structure immigration policy to attract investors to Bermuda to sustain our local labor forces is still a never ending work in progress. Pure waffle and spin, and shameful that you think your constituents are dumb enough to accept this.
Skeptic. I concur with your statement. In an ideal world, there would be no need for Job Corps. So what about our young men an women who are currently out of school, out of work, have different learning styles, do not carry any technical skillsets, experienced exceptional hardships and may have not been afforded the same opportunities as some of us have?….we cannot afford to leave ppl behind.
Is that so Lisa? Well! Louisville, Kentucky & Long Beach each have an unemployment rate of 9% at present & California is the the highest in the U.S. at 10.2%
Aren’t these all the ones you have contracts for that exceed $90 million? What a waste of hard earned American taxpayer’s money.
How does someone apply for the Job Corps program?
Minister Minors you are a weak minister who has bowed to every business owner who is prejudice & greedy beckoned call. You seem to have the conviction needed in the beginning but when it came down to it you made matters worse for generations to come by agreeing that waiters & other occupations with elementary tasks needed a diploma for employment. Now here you go again making it worse for unemployed Bermudians dabbling in laws set out to protect Bermudians born right to employment wherever they fit in here. All this just to get your party votes? WHAT A SELLLLLLOOOOOUT!
Now it seems clear that the OBA if true to their word recognize what is happening in regards to work permit abuse. From looking at their economy plan, “Protect Bermudian jobs by cracking down on employers who abuse immigration rules.” & “Stimulate Bermudian jobs growth by giving employers a two-year payroll tax exemption for all new Bermudian hires.” they are the ones who want to fix unemployment. Along with other great ideas that fix what plp has broken.
“Establish an independent Contractor General to oversee government construction projects to ensure fairness, enforce rules and eliminate wasteful cost overruns.”
“Support small businesses by directing 20% of all government goods and services spending – about $80 million a year – to them.”
“Use growing government revenues to reduce debt and restore and strengthen social programs.”
“End wasteful government spending through the creation of a Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission” This last one is directed to what you are doing by planning waste $5 to $6 million on getting GEDs for Bermudians. Now the greedy employers will have a waiters position that requires not only an unreasonable amount of years experience & waiters diploma but also a GED. So what’s next a requirement to speak fluent tagalog & a course to go along with it?
Your response is stupid. The problem Bermuda is having , and it can be seen in the news every day, is a job vs qualification mismatch. Unemployed Bermudians who are NOT accountants or actuaries and who can’t even do dishes. And if they have qualifications -certificates and degrees- the marketplace does not want or need that skill.. There is a demand for nannies and caregivers but the unemployed don’t want those jobs often in luxury homes where the owners are often abroad for 6 to 8 months. Bermudians could be in the pool and driving the car but we don’t apply. So we do not have a right to a job if we have NO qualifications in those areas. To prove my point, we also need doctors so why can’t I, as an unemployed person, get that job. It is my right? No stupid. I am NOT qualified.
What’s stupid is to suggest somethings stupid without comprehending what is stated. I clearly stated, “waiters & other occupations with elementary tasks needed a diploma for employment.” Nothing about doctors, accountants, or actuaries as these are NOT, “elementary tasks”. Neither is a nanny or other caregiver an elementary task but ushering people to tables, taking food orders, tossing salads, low end retail sales, making sandwiches, janitorial, mowing lawns, washing dishes, blending drinks, making coffee, etc. all these jobs can be taught onsite in a day to locals just as they do for foreigners. Then there’s those jobs that need a slight bit of no how but still elementary like carpet cleaning, tiling, construction labor & others that would only need a months training just the same as employers do for the foreign workers. No need to try to convince me the workers new these jobs from start because I know for a fact most don’t. Many Bermudians work more than one job of different skill sets & many of them have qualifications, certificates & degrees in other fields but the jobs still are given to a foreigner first. Just as the OBA says, “Protect Bermudian jobs by cracking down on employers who abuse immigration rules.” I’m sure they didn’t get this from thin air.
I’ll just use a new paragraph to comment on the big house, pool & car thing since this is a outright joke. FUUUUNY! First time one of those big shots hear a Bermudian call to apply one of their eye’s starts to twitch. Prejudice thoughts come in their head of Snoop Dog/Lion & Dr. Dre in their pool with a dozen big booty women sippin their Crystal while they’re away. Luckily they have the solution THE EXPERIENCE QUESTION, “Oh sorry but we were looking for someone with a bajillion years of experience too bad so sad. BYE!” GUESS WHAT?!?!? The foreigner!?!?!, “no experience needed just be a non Bermudian & a willingness to kiss my backside 24/7.
@Tommy Chong—Your comments are actually on point. It is wasteful to spend five-six million dollars on a job corps programme when if the work was availabl they should be trained on the job as was suggested by the PLP innitial platform that foreign workers had a stipulation to train a Bermudian along side of them that was the deal that never took place, so we waste more time training Bermudians for jobs already occupied by untrained foreigners..I do think that the best qualified Bermudians should be considered for certain positions that call for a degree which is i.e.doctor, nurse, accountant, criminology, forensics, medical workers,ect.. however many positions could be learned on the job,practical experience is the best! I also feel that certain jobs should be off limits to foreigners so that there is always a pool of jobs for Bermudians only! its pure discrimination when it comes to nannies, housekeepers, caregivers ect… Bermudians do apply for some of these jobs but we are not always shortlisted! if they were never available to anyone else, bet your boots we would fill them as we did before with all Bermudians!Our grandparents were cooks, cleaners, nannies and had no problem doing their job, some people want slaves and slavery under any condition with any group of people is wrong..
timesshavechanged! you are absolutely correct, times have changed – our demongraphic changes everyday, and with that, so does the needs of our nation. As it was presented clearly at the public meeting on Job Corps, it is not designed for “untrained…cooks, cleaners, nannies”, rather skilled areas of vocation leading to sustainable careers. This includes on-the-job-learning, but also technical qualifications, life-skills and social competencies, which are necessities of community or client engagement.
@BetterBermuda—seems like you may know a bit about this Job Corp..couldn’t the tehnical skills be a course at the college, without spending six million on skills that have no potential job to match..I understand that some skills must be taught but is the absolutely something that could not be incorporated in a college class?
That’s probably because Better Bermuda probably works for Lisa Odle or is Lisa Odle.
http://www.sba.gov/sba-100/odle-management-group
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulCwoSyYRSk
“Some will already be aware that Job Corps is a free education and training program that helps young people gain self confidence, prepare for a career, earn a GED and excel in a profession.”
Since when does six million = free? I know people who paid a heck of a lot less to get their GED around by muslim bakery. PLP has let foreigners depredate our economy in so many ways its repulsive.
This does not apply to you timeshavechanged! from your previous comment I know you’re not that dense but to others who believe this feculence I don’t care what degree you’ve got you’re still a dunce.
What’s another six million down the PLP toilet? Public – private initiative: translation, business is going to coerced into backing this pork barrel in exchange for the work permits they want. This is not about jobs for Bermudians but it is all about jobs for the PLP cronies who will be running the scheme.
If the minister was really serious about creating jobs, she would move to repeal the Employment Act of 2003 which is perhaps the most anti-business piece of legislation ever passed by this or any Bermuda Government. It effectively makes it impossible to get rid of staff except at prohibitively high pay off rates (24 weeks max) – net result in this present environment, nobody wants to hire for fear of being stuck with An employee they do not need or want.
Hopefully, none of what this pathetic pretence of a minister says will matter in a few weeks – if we are so dumb as to reelect her and her party, then we fully deserve what happens.
The recommendation for Job Corps stems from two significant commissioned reports – The Arnold Report, and The Mincy Report – some 7 years ago. Both the PLP and OBA have committed to its establishment!
It may be an inconvenient truth however the timing of these actions. Thereby perception is reality and its easy to misconstrue good intentions.
I hope OBA is not dumb enough to spend six million on this!
Friends and family recipients.
Follow the money.
“Hopefully none of what this pathetic pretense of a minister says will matter in a few weeks”
I second that!
IMHO, Minister Minors is doing a good job. Yes, it’s election season, so I understand the comments above. She is finding that right balance, and for that she deserves credit. Also, she is one of the few MPs or Ministers that has integrity in addition to the Swan duo, Jackson, Bean, Smith, and Weeks. coalition govt anyone?
Sounds a lot like the stuff you should be learning in high school…
I too, went to school, went to college and developed a career. We have people on the margins of society, where the feeling of hope for them is lost. They have potential. We as community -as a people..cannot afford to leave them behind.
YES! YES! I know all about it. Read the bio right here http://www.sba.gov/sba-100/odle-management-group Short & unimpressive unless some ones impressed with scam artist who shams recession hit states out of millions. Now what our island?
And you all is falling for this bu$%hit?
Halloween is done. But those graves are rumbling.
at what point do the Children of Lois leave the room, Patrice for excample has FAILED at EVERY SINGLE Ministry that she has been given and now she will be put in the Senate.
Please PLP grow a pair and tell Premier Cox that you dont want Patrice in Cabinet anymore.
The Children of Lois need to go back and study their civics book.
blaa, blaa, blaa, blaa – what a bunch of hot air and posturing for the PLP prior to the election.
Please do tell me Minister – and what jobs will the people be able to go to – the horses have left the barn!!!
Was this woman voted in? She is so far out of touch if she only does this one thing and is so bad at it, surely she must move on! I’m guessing the perks like the car and all the allowances are the only reason she stays, that and no one else would hire her.
As it relates to jobs, let me be clear, this government is committed to retaining jobs and to stimulating the creation of new jobs.
The 2012 Work Permit Policies being prepared for implementation contain a number of policies that are favourable to the interest of local and international business partners.
The community can expect a balanced policy, one that is designed to create mutually beneficial conditions for the establishment of new businesses in Bermuda and one that also makes it easy for businesses that have moved to other jurisdictions to return.
The new policy recognizes that we live in a global marketplace and positions Bermuda to compete more effectively.
To this end, I expect that the stakeholder group that has been working collaborative with the Ministry will receive the second draft of the 2012 Work Permit Policies within the next week for any final comments and or proposed amendments.
I expect that the new policy will be implemented soon thereafter.
THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN BEGGING FOR THIS FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. WTF
I get that, and its great, but what I don’t get is why 3 or 4 years ago we(the dude who expressed his opinion today) decided to bend IB over and f@ck them, then tell them there a strict no sleep over rule, and when there’s nobody left to bend over because everyone is tired of being screwed we extend an invitation to tell them we changed our rule. So we’re making it easy for companies that left to come back? How? By giving out free vaseline on the way back in? If I was IB I’d say f@ck you Bermuda! Why? Because f@ck you thays why!… Seriously I hope they take the lube and foget about the past, but I sure as hell wouldn’t… Sorry for the visual. Gone are the days where sh!t actually made sense.
“this government is committed to retaining jobs”?
Yes, now you are. After you’ve created 5,000 Bermudians unemployed and thousands less jobs in Bermuda. After we’ve watched you go on overseas trips to pick up vanity ‘awards’ while dozens of Bermudians lose their jobs every week. After your stupid and arrogant approach to IB persuaded companies to relocate whole departments overseas. After you increase import duty to 25% to ‘protect retail’, then reduce it, then increase tax-free imports at the airport, all in the space of 6 months. After you preside over a slide into open gang warfare, and your response is to make announcements every few months that you’re ‘proud that the number of crimes is reducing’.
And now you’re ‘committted to retaing jobs’. Useless empty words from a useless empty government, preoccupied with looting taxpayer funds to make yourselves rich.
Friends and family.
You know how I got a job I’m proud of. I went to school and learned some stuff. Then I went to college and learned some more stuff. Then I got a job. Thats how it works. We don’t need to spend five to six million a year on some unaccredited crap, thats never going to get someone a real job, that can contribute to our economy. More useless election propaganda that will never come to fruition anyway, stop wasting our time.
Please research the Job Corps program before you start opening your mouth . . .remember what our elders said “it’s better to be thought a fool, then to open your mothe and remove all doubt!”
Clearly you have no idea what Job Corps is.
It won’t create a single job. Not one single job.
Job Corps is inspiring – if one only chose to understand its details before passing judgment. It has proven success globally not necessarily to ‘create a job’ but to fill voids and anticipated economic needs. It involves forsight.
?!?!: It also involves not leaving anyone behind. I too, went to school, went to college and developed a career. We have people on the margins of society, where the feeling of hope for them is lost. They have potential. We as community -as a people..cannot afford to leave them behind.
Job Corps IS accredited, with established partners, and targets the needs of our economy.
Pass judgement on this!
http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/state-unemployment-rates-decline-september-2012
http://www.sba.gov/sba-100/odle-management-group
I don’t see any of the states on that $90 million contract list with much of an unemployment decline.
More election candy. More GONNA DO from the GONNA DO PLP which really does not have much to show for 14 years besides $1.5b debt.
We “expected” most of this stuff years ago. Given the speed at which things actually happen, we’ll be expecting it for a long time to come if this government is returned to power.
BTW, we are training pot-washers and waiters as more and more restaurants are closing daily. Maybe they are preparing them to work in the casinos they hope will be soon forthcoming.
The PLP inner circle are rushing to try and show they are “standing strong” for Bermudians. Having acted as if there was no end to the money supply for their own benefit, and with an election looming, the same people are rushing around to try and persuade their voting base that they only became the Government in 2010 and have so much to do to make Bermuda business friendly and correct all the mess they made since 1998. Of course they don’t refer to those years but they are written into the history.
It won’t work. It is clear the inner circle are Republican at heart and merely use Barack Obama as a front to fool people. The PLP put in place the restrictions that caused the exodus of jobs which they are now turning back as if they are new ideas. It won’t work, either to get support or to attract business.
Last premier fired the fluff and weak ones what happened here M!.!K!LMIN !??????
Dear Minister Minors
Your former bank job advertised for an avp trust services today since you have red carpet every where you goes you should apply to your ace girl so that they hold the vacancy open for you just in case the plp lose or if godma paula cannot put you back in cabinet as her compromise to stay on as premier for 2 more years there is also a similar job at hsbc call the new hsbc ceo before you renew his work permit see
jobs for plp
pathetic lying party
What would happen to the individuals that currently occupy rooms at the old Harmony Hotel? I wonder if the Hon. Minister has given this any thought.