Department of Labour 'give back' to job seekers

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

AS many as 100 people are visiting the Department of Labour daily in search of employment, according to a senior manager.

Simone Thurston, manager of Public Employment Services at the Department Labour, provided the estimate to media on the sidelines reporters of a giveback initiative on Friday.

The Department of Labour partnered with Sysco Bahamas Food Services to provide more than 100 care packages to individuals who are unemployed and seeking employment, or just need an extra helping hand.

The event was held at the Department of Labour’s headquarters on Rosetta Street from 10am to 12pm. The goal was to provide care packages to individuals registered on the department’s ‘job seekers’ online platform, which notifies users when jobs in various fields are available. However, people who weren’t registered on the system were also assisted during the event.

“We have people registering daily for employment and out of that number we have people who are employed but they are seeking a better employment opportunity,” Ms Thurston said. “We have over 130,000 people registered in our database. On any given day we can see up to I'd say 50 -100 people seeking employment daily and we have three locations Rosetta Street, Carmichael Road, and Robinson Road”

The Department of Labour also held a job fair in the Seabreeze community last week.

Ms Thurstion said more than 24 employers participated in the fair with some job seekers hired on the spot, adding that about 300 people were lined up to have second interviews with various businesses.

Ms Thurston encouraged people to register on the job seekers website for employment opportunities. She also encouraged the public to take advantage of professional advancement courses through the department’s partnerships with the University of The Bahamas, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), Cyber-Tech Career College, and others.

Ashleigh Russell, executive assistant of Sysco Bahamas Food Services said the care packages were filled with food items that people can use to make a hearty meal such as rice, canned goods, grits, water, and other items.

“It's important that we put products in the bags that can help the day-to-day life and something practical for people that are struggling,” Ms Russell said.

For anyone interested in registering to the Department of Labour’s job platform go to https://jobseekers.bahamas.gov.bs/ to sign up or visit the Department of Labour locations on Rosetta Street, Carmichael Road, and Robinson Road.

Comments

moncurcool says...

So the department of labour is not doing the ministry of social services job?

Any wonder why we can't advance in this country?

Posted 17 May 2024, 9:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Twocent says...

People willing to work…..work needing to be done….the math looks clear! Give them a sense of civic responsibility….or are they too picky and proud to share in some pride for our nation? Our roads alone need a good sweep ;)

Posted 18 May 2024, 12:36 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

If your child came home from college would you send them to work on the back of a garbage truck? And I'm not trying to demean the profession. Some people have built empires and raked in millions off of dirty jobs. But if someone says they want a job and they opt not to do that, let them make the choice. Saw too many people demonizing the thousands of persons without work when unemployment was at 10%, then came Dorian and COVID and those same people found themselves jobless and desperate. Allow people the dignity or dignity of choice that you'd want your child to have. If it comes down to eating or working theyll make the tough choice

I recall two men showed up to one of these fairs looking for a job, I cant recall who was the minister at the time, it was either the minister or someone senior in labour, he actually made a joke of it, (not in a bad way, I believe he was just surprised that young men with degrees showed up for waiter positions). he (or another rep) told them they were overqualified for the positions being offered and turned them away.

Posted 18 May 2024, 4:04 p.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

As a parent I have never sent my three university educated children anywhere to work. They just each knew by their upbringing that the day would come when they would have to flap their wings really hard to get out of the nest and survive on their own. I was naturally a little disappointed that all three of them eventually flew away to make their own nests in the U.S. Thankfully they are each now happily enjoying successful careers ....... but sadly they typify the brain-drain our nation has been suffering from for many years.

By the way, our nation's true unemployment rate has not been anywhere near as low as 10% for decades.

Posted 19 May 2024, 1:41 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Good for them, I wish them continued success. When I was in my early 20s a Canadian gentleman told me, *you need to move to the US*. I had no idea what he was talking about or why he thought I of all the people around me should be singled out for that advice. Having experienced the last 10 years of governance and the age of the *Rise of the Incompetent Sycophant*, I finally get it. This ship een going nowhere fast... well, I'll see what Michael Pintard does.

Posted 21 May 2024, 6:31 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**Seems "Bran" has now walked away with his very own blue care bag!** --- The heresy is so strong about this past Friday night's staging of Dr Minnis/Branville McCartney... Baha Mar Leadership fling ..seems not even the Tribune is in any rush to be reporting anything about "Bran's anxiously being one less..out of a job. --- Yes?

Posted 19 May 2024, 4:08 p.m. Suggest removal

rosiepi says...

Someone w/a college degree working as a garbage collector?
Hmmm…would that unfortunate have graduated from DuPuch Law School??

Posted 19 May 2024, 4:26 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Lol. No.

Posted 21 May 2024, 6:35 a.m. Suggest removal

Log in to comment