Karim: OJTs’ firing, sign of things to come

In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Karim said, “I have been advised that staff at the MIC Institute of Technology are being sent home. Staff at YTEPP are being sent .home. Staff at UTT have already been sent home. NESC has drastically reduced its programmes” as a gradual slow down seems to have gripped all sectors of the country.

The Chaguanas East MP said the firing of the 60 OJT staff members was “nothing more than victimisation” and not one of “restructuring” as was being claimed by the ruling PNM administration.

“It is a crying shame that the PNM is hoodwinking the population into believing that the firing of these OJT staff is linked to the economy and financial constraints. Over $580 million has been allocated to the OJT Programme in the last two years. Where has all that money gone? What does it cost to retain 60 staff members relative to $580 million? This is a clear strategy of ‘cleaning house’ to rehire party hacks and perpetuate the typical PNM nepotism, cronyism and discriminatory practices,” Karim said.

“With respect to the OJT staff to be sent home, we are yet to be told how they were determined.

On what basis those who will remain on their jobs do so? And, who exactly comprise this transition team,” he asked.

“Where will these staff find alternative employment to take care of themselves and their families? Many have loans to service, young children to send to school and some have medical bills for chronic diseases,” Karim said.

Karim said the OJT Programme had been established as a “pre-employment programme” for graduates to be inducted into the world of work as a means of gaining the required occupational skills.

He also noted that the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development had not stated how many workers had been “retrenched, displaced, terminated or contracts ‘not renewed’ by the Government in the public sector since September 2015.” “Yet it is the same PNM Government that impressed upon the business community to ‘be responsible’ and not send home employees. Deception and hypocrisy at its best,” he charged.