Kellier urges J’cans to acquire skills for logistics hub jobs

MINISTER OF Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier has made an appeal to persons to acquire the necessary skills training in order to meet possible job opportunities from the proposed logistics hub.

Speaking with The Gleaner following a familiarisation tour of the Caribbean Maritime Institute by his ministry, Kellier said it is imperative that young people make use of employment opportunities.

“Both skilled and unskilled persons should take heed, because with the changes in the job market and the global regime that we are experiencing, it requires that persons are multiskilled,” he declared.

“We try to impart the knowledge out of the labour market study that we do so that preparations can be made to get interested persons certified to enable them to work within the wider scope of the logistics hub. You cannot be too qualified; and those who don’t have a skill, get qualified,” he urged.

AREAS IN DEMAND

He also pointed to specific areas that are in demand within the global market.

“Particularly in IT (information technology), there will be a great demand for those persons. Persons involved in commercial activities, the drivers, among other persons who are in that industry, because this will be a huge multiplier effect,” he said.

The labour minister also stressed the need for more training to take place.

“There is a growing demand for more training here because while we are exporting some of our more competent workers, a gap is developing locally,” he said.