Labour Min urge technical institutions urged to rethink their roles, functionality

A call has been issued by Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton to technical institutions to rethink their roles and functionality to support government’s effort to create a skilled workforce.

Hamilton issued the call after reviewing annual reports of the institutions, which the minister said shows their unpreparedness to fill the skill gap needed in the oil and gas industry. The minister disclosed that in 2021, one of the country’s most prominent technical institutions only trained eight welders and fabricators expending some $4.1M, while over $20M was expended to train 15 heavy-duty equipment operators (HDEO).

Hamilton pointed out that the institution’s training output is quite startling for government, since it hopes to ensure citizens take advantage of the job opportunities emerging from the oil and gas industry.

“So, in my view, technical institutions will need to rethink their roles and functionality in today’s society or is it that we are still in the same place the colonial masters left us, or are we innovating to deal with the skill gap that we have because the data I saw does not suggest that to me,” the minister said.

Minister Hamilton explained that the situation, will be dealt with holistically as it cannot continue. He appealed to the relevant stakeholders to partner with government to aid its effort aimed at the betterment of its people.

This, minister Hamilton said is also in keeping with government’s manifesto promise to create 50,000 jobs.

He disclosed that since assuming office in August 2020, the government reshaped the labour ministry and by extension, the Board of Industrial (BIT) to better serve its people. Milton said that this included broadening BIT’s reach to increase the number of persons trained, as well as the programmes offered to accommodate the needs of the labour market.

He stressed that BIT, in 2021, trained over 3,000 people in the areas of small engine repairs, shade house farming, refrigeration and air conditioner repairs, introduction to photovoltaic systems solar installation, maintenance and repairs, electrical installation and computer repairs among others.

The minister expressed the view to train 4, 000 young people for 2022. He said that in this year’s national budget, $420.5M was earmarked to equip 1,000 people with the necessary skills to be employed in the oil and gas industry.  Hamilton added that this will see the certification of welders, stevedores, heavy-duty vehicle operators, and others.