OJT programme not closing down

I have seen a video making its way around social media, where a young woman describing herself as trainee of the On the Job (OJT) Programme has bravely come forward to articulate on her behalf and other trainees the concerns many of them have with respect to the future of the programme.

Firstly, let me allay the fears and dispel the rumours that the programme will be closing down.

This is simply not true. What has been communicated and is fact is that the programme is being restructured.

As the OJT Programme is now a division of the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Cabinet took a decision to restructure the programme. This decision was made to facilitate the most efficient and effective way to integrate it into the ministry, with a view to developing an appropriate organisational structure for the programme.

These are challenging times and tough decisions are being made across both private and public enterprises.

I give the assurance that amidst it all, the decisions are being made with the best interest of the trainees in mind.

We are presently engaged in interviews for staff for the restructured programme. We have to ensure that we bring on board the most suitably qualified people, who will continue to address the concerns of the trainees and provide the level of service these trainees deserve.

As part of the restructuring process and alignment to the ministry, the OJT Programme’s satellite offices will now be located at the ministry’s satellite offices in Pt Fortin, Siparia, San Fernando, Chaguanas and Tunapuna and I guarantee that from June 1, OJT staff will be present at these offices to address the concerns of trainees.

Please note that we are still in the process of finalising accommodation for the programme’s head office and will advise trainees of the new address.

Moreover, we have been working at full speed to ensure a seamless transition and that all functional and operational logistics are in place so that our trainees are not adversely affected. We are aiming at minimising to the very best of our ability, any disruptions to the operations of the programme.

I thank the trainees for bringing to my attention their concerns and congratulate the young woman for her bravery to make a public and overt call for me to address this issue.

I remind all OJTs that this programme was conceptualised to provide them with an opportunity to gain practical experience in the workplace and to help them develop the professional and interpersonal skills necessary for their success.

The On-the Job Training Programme is not closing down and as the minister with responsibility for this programme, I am committed to ensuring that we minimise the possibility of disruption to any aspect of this process. I invite the trainees to keep us updated on any further concerns they may have.

In this context please contact the director at K.Lovell-Ferreira@ojt.

gov.tt.

JENNIFER BAPTISTE-PRIMUS Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development