Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 20, 2019 (SKNIS):Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis are being urged to get certified to increase their attractiveness to employers based in the twin-island Federation or any country around the world.
Against the backdrop of the recent expansion of the categories of skilled workers who can move and work freely across participating member states of the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Single Market and Economy (CSME), Senior Minister and Minister of Labour, Honourable Vance Amory, said that nationals must be ready to seize emerging job opportunities.
“It is not sufficient at this stage to be able to do the work. It is important that you are certified, you have the relevant skill certificate whether it is in the hotel industry, as a construction worker, or a self-employed person, you need to have that certification,” he said during a recent interview.
Senior Minister Amory indicated that the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education have targeted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as an area where nationals can gain a skill and become certified with a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Certificate. This will help to open the door for holders of an NVQ to receive a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Certificate.
The categories of skilled workers eligible to live and work freely in CSME participating member states are agricultural workers, artisans, artistes, barbers, beauty service practitioners, media practitioners, musicians, registered nurses, sports persons, and trained teachers. University graduates are also entitled to move and work freely under the CSME.
“We need to ensure that we equip ourselves by taking advantage of any training opportunity, any upgrade in our skills which come along and also to get the certification – the skills certificate, which you can take to your employer here, or if one were to go to another CARICOM country for whatever reason,” Honourable Amory stated.
