Employment Services Department

08/03/2023

TERTIARY STUDENTS 16 YEARS + CAN NOW APPLY FOR THE TCI NATIONAL INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICE PROGRAM

The Employment Services Department understands the majority of our students are entering tertiary education at the age of 16 years. In order to not exclude or deprive our youth of such a wonderful opportunity, the age requirement for the 2nd TCI National Internship and Apprentice Program has been amended as follows:

• Applicants must be 16 years+

The following requirements remain:
• Must provide a tertiary transcript/degree (college/university)
• Must provide proof of legal status (Islander Status Card or B.O.T.C Passport)
• Must provide Resume & Cover Letter

As a bonus to the program, participants will also engage in a number of personal development workshops and trainings. Areas such as Branding, Self-Actualization, Mindfulness, Productivity, Connecting the Dots and many more will be address in these sessions.

The Employment Services Department encourages ALL (Turks and Caicos Islanders/BOTC) students and graduates abroad and local to register for the program.

Student Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiNLQUcQrS2d8Jt8_sovVYLC2Sj6668jBAUD9pFJ4cIaXjvg/viewform

Company Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/XE6HJ1KBXD

02/03/2023

National Apprentices attend Soft Skills Training Sessions

The National Apprenticeship Program, which started in September 2021, is in its sixth month and has six apprentices. This program is designed to give individuals who have graduated with either a bachelor's or master’s degree an opportunity to gain nine to twelve (9-12) months of work experience within their field.
On February 20th and 21st, 2023, the Employment Services Department held a Two-Day Soft Skills training with facilitator Melanie Smith, CEO of Talent Recruitment Group. The Soft- Skills training sessions addressed the skills gaps highlighted in the National Skills Audit 2017. The apprentices received training on Complex Problem Solving, Coordinating with others, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, Active Listening and Communication.

During the training, the apprentices were visited by Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services. Hon. Taylor got an opportunity to gain more insight into the apprentices’ experiences thus far.

The Employment Services Department would like to thank the following enterprises for collaborating with us and channelling our youth in the right direction: TCI Sports Commission, The Government Morgue, Mechanical Services Division, InterHealth Canada and the Department of Social Development and Welfare.

Student Registration for the second phase of the TCI National Internship and Apprenticeship Program is OPEN! The TCINIAP is divided into two programs; the internship, which runs for 4-6 weeks and the apprenticeship, for 9 to 12 months.

Register TODAY by clicking the link below!

Intern/Apprentice Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiNLQUcQrS2d8Jt8_sovVYLC2Sj6668jBAUD9pFJ4cIaXjvg/viewform

Enterprise Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/XE6HJ1KBXD

02/03/2023

Company Registration is OPEN for the TCI National Internship and Apprenticeship Program

In June 2022, the Turks and Caicos Islands National Internship and Apprenticeship Program pilot was launched on the footing of “Building Human Capacity”. With the launch being such an accomplishment based on the riveting feedback and success stories by well-received participating companies, students/graduates and the wider public, we are pleased to announce the opening of phase two of the program.

Phase two of the program entails a 6-8 week Internship program for individuals who are currently obtaining their tertiary degree and a 9-12 month Apprenticeship program for individuals who have obtained their tertiary degree (Bachelor/Master). The program also provides three to four personal development training for all participants; these soft skill training sessions will develop and improve their ongoing skills.

Here is your opportunity to invest and have a chance to get so much more in return. Help our youth look for more than a job but; direct them to a rewarding and meaningful career that complements their 21st-century lifestyle. Let your organization tell a story that is all theirs. A story of unique experiences where you connect and engage with our youth, mentoring, leading, lifelong learners.

Register your enterprise today; just click the link
https://forms.office.com/r/XE6HJ1KBXD or scan the barcode on the poster!

14/02/2023

Implementation of the TCI National Internship and Apprentice Program

Dedicated to “Building Human Capacity” within the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Employment Services Department has implemented its second phase of the TCI National Internship and Apprentice Program (TCINIAP). The program aims to align our tertiary students and graduates with work experience within their field of study.

Since the pilot launched on June 21st 2022, the Employment Services Department has had 55 intern graduates across 24 private and public enterprises. And currently, 6 enrolled apprentices (doing their 9 months' work experience) are engaged within their respective fields.

The TCINIAP is divided into two programs:
1. The Internship Program- tertiary students who are still in the process of obtaining their degree. This program runs for 4 to 6 weeks with a stipend of $250 per week.
2. The Apprenticeship Program - For students who have graduated with their degree; this program runs for nine (to twelve) months with a monthly stipend of $1800.

As a bonus to the program, participants will also engage in several personal development workshops and training. Areas such as Branding, Self-Actualization, Mindfulness, Productivity, Connecting the Dots and many more are addressed in these sessions.

The requirements for the 2nd TCINIAP are as follows:
• Applicants must be 18 years+
• Must provide a tertiary transcript/degree (college/university)
• Must provide proof of legal status (Islander Status Card or B.O.T.C Passport)
• Must provide Resume & Cover Letter

The Employment Services Department encourages ALL (Turks and Caicos Islanders/BOTC) students abroad and locally to register for the program.

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiNLQUcQrS2d8Jt8_sovVYLC2Sj6668jBAUD9pFJ4cIaXjvg/viewform

05/12/2022

Let's Move TCI is BACK for 2023, and registration is now open! 💪🏽
We are happy to return on January 23, 2023, for the second go-round after a successful 12 weeks this year.

📝Join the health & fitness community and movement here: https://www.letsmovetci.com/registration.

👏🏽 Get your company engaged and healthy by registering staff here: https://www.letsmovetci.com/corporate

💡 For more information on what Let’s Move TCI is about and what we plan to achieve, click here: https://www.letsmovetci.com/program.

23/11/2022

Labour Inspectors, Tribunal Members and Tribunal Staff Training

The Labour Tribunal under the guidance of President M. Doreen Missick, Attorney at Law hosted its second training with Labour Inspectors, Tribunal Members and Tribunal staff at the Blue Heaven Resort in Providenciales.

Permanent Secretary Mr. Wesley Clerveaux and Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr. Amin McCartney from the Ministry of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services were in attendance along with Deputy Labour Commissioner Mr. Kenrick Gardiner- Grand Turk and Deputy Labour Commissioner Mr. Alpheus Smith– Providenciales.

Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent both brought remarks to the attendees and pledge their support to both Departments in their efforts to create greater synergy in carrying out their roles in their respective departments. Mr. McCartney emphasized that both departments share the same Employment Ordinance Cap. 17.8 and each department has a role to play in their efforts to redress the Employment issues brought on by the employee/employer complaints.

Senior member of the Tribunal, Mr. Edward Hall made presentation on ‘Fostering greater synergy between departments’, with a focus on working together as a team and how valuable this collaboration will be in bringing matters to the Court for hearings and for a swift response.

Tribunal President, Mrs. Missick discussed the Conciliation process and the importance of the Inspectors taking a neutral stance in their deliberations, the inspector is not there to take sides rather act as a Mediator with a view to promote a settlement, and for such a case not having to be determined by the Labour Tribunal. She further emphasized just how important and critical the role of the Labour Inspectors are, with such powers been given by the Ordinance – they shall have to power to ‘require the production of records of wages or salaries kept by an employer’; ‘at all reasonable times to enter any premises at which any employer carries on his business’., among other powers. She encouraged the Inspectors to carry out their role and use their powers with great discipline and respect.

The workshop focused on various topics such as ‘Employment contracts, Service Charge, payment of National Insurance (NIB), National Health Insurance’ (NHIP), Work Permit Fees, Rights of Employees not to be Unfairly Dismissed.

The workshop was very informative and the group look forward to future training sessions and the completion of an Inspectors Manual that will help with and enhance their decision making when referring Employees to the Labour Tribunal for Case adjudication. The participants were given time to ask questions with an open participation and persons offering their views.

17/10/2022

The Employment Services Department is pleased to recognize Courtney Missick, as the first Turks and Caicos Islands National Apprentice to transition into full-time employment. This employment is in partnership with the TCI Sports Commission as Sports Programme Officer.

Hon. Rachel Taylor in her remarks, “Congratulations to Courtney Missick in transitioning into his full-time employment, he has done an amazing job as an apprentice, and I know he will continue to professionally and personally develop as he climbs the ladder of success. My Ministry is dedicated to Building Human Capacity, and our goal is to ensure that our students return home and gain the necessary experience and employment within their field of choice.”

Mr Missick, a TCI Scholarship recipient, returned home from The MICO University College, Jamaica, where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Education, specializing in Physical Education. In July 2022, Mr. Missick was introduced to TCI Sports Commission as anApprentice, in the capacity of a Sports Programme Apprentice.

After approximately three (3) months of his Apprenticeship, the position of Sports Programme Officer was advertised internally. No doubt, Mr Missick was shortlisted, as he was already performing his functions and responsibilities as a full-time employee.

Mr. Missick's interview displayed a high level of professionalism, demonstrating that he possesses the ability, skills and competencies needed to be effective in the post. "The TCI Sports Commission firmly believes in creating opportunities for our youths. With the right guidance, training and mentoring, Mr. Missick will be successful in the post and will add value to the Sports Commission, as we endeavor to develop sports and active living throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands," commented HR Manager Joel Richards.

Mr. Missick's report to the Department stated that he knew the Sports Commission was the ideal enterprise to assist in his passion for sports. He said that under the guidance of Director Jarett Forbes and Deputy Director Alvin Parker, he was placed in the Program and Events Department, where he was mentored by Mr. Ifeanyi Otuonye and Mrs. Joddy Harvey. "It was an honour to work alongside them, which led to my successful employment opportunity. I look forward to an eventful year with the Sports Commission," Courtney reported.

Hon. Rachel Taylor in her remarks, “Congratulations to Courtney Missick in transitioning into his full-time employment, he has done an amazing job as an apprentice, and I know he will continue to professionally and personally develop as he climbs the ladder of success. My Ministry is dedicated to Building Human Capacity, and it is our goal to ensure that our students return home and gain the necessary experience and employment within their field of choice.”

The Apprenticeship Program is designed for students who have completed their Tertiary Education and have returned home to seek employment. We again extend gratitude to our partners of the five (5) Enterprises, where are remaining apprentices are gaining experience,: TCISports Commission, TCIG Mechanical Unit (Grand Turk), TCIG Morgue, InterHealth Canada and the Department of Social Development and Welfare (Grand Turk) and to all companies who have partnered with the Internship Programme. The Employment Services Department currently has ninety-two (92) registrants; fourteen (14) Apprentices and seventy-eight (78) Interns enrolled in our Internship and Apprenticeship Program since its launch on June 21, 2022.

Congratulations Mr. Courtney Missick! We encourage our students who are currently enrolled in a college and those who have recently completed their degree, to register with the Employment Services Department Internship and Apprentice Programme for the 2023 period at [email protected]. Follow our page, Employment Services Department, for more updates.

12/09/2022

55 INTERNS GRADUATE FROM THE FIRST TCI NATIONAL INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

September 8th, 2022 – Friday, August 26th, 2022, and September 2nd, 2022, The Employment Services Department hosted a cocktail Graduation Ceremony for its Providenciales interns and Graduation Brunch Ceremony for its Grand Turk interns. The ceremonies were not only an auspicious occasions but, more importantly, a historical event as this was the first time an Internship and Apprenticeship Program had been meticulously and strategically organised in the TCI, to shape Human Capital Development.

The Program allowed youth to intern in their passion and excel in their chosen career path, thus allowing companies to utilise the program as extended job interviews, allowing students not only to display what they have learnt, but to ask questions and demonstrate a willingness to learn, which could only land our youth a step closer to their dream job. Present at the graduation in support of this initiative was Hon. Charles Washington Misick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Hon. Kyle Knowles, Member of Parliament of Wheelend. In the Hon. Misick remarks, he emphasized the importance of obtaining education and returning home to build their nation. He continued to state that this National Program is key to the Government’s Human Capital development strategy.

Over both Ceremonies, the First National Internship and Apprenticeship Program welcomed 55 Graduates who worked in the fields of:

1. Aviation

2. Sports

3. Social Development

4. Infrastructure

5. Finance

6. Human Resources

7. Education

8. Health – in particularly forensic pathology, pharmaceuticals, medicine and dentistry

9. Law

10. Technology

11. Telecommunications

12. Hospitality

In her remarks, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of MoELECS stated, “It is a great pleasure to witness our first National Internship and Apprenticeship Program. The Ministry of Education is dedicated to our mandate of Building Human Capacity within the TCI. Our students gained real-life exposure with this national program, while growing their knowledge. Additionally, it allowed our students to build those critical networking connections and gain a competitive edge in the current job market. I encourage our students to return to the TCI and take advantage of our Internship and Apprenticeship Program.”

The Employment Services Department expressed great gratitude to our students, as the program would not have been successful without their participation. Thanks to our public and private enterprises and our soft skill s facilitators for giving our students a chance to gain valuable experience in the world of work, but more importantly, in their field of choice.

Monday, September 5th, 2022, commenced the first week of our Apprenticeship Program that will run for nine months, ending in June 2023. Currently, there are five apprentices in the fields of Sports, Mechanics, Education and Forensic Pathology.

The TCI National Internship and Apprentice Partners include:

1. Computer Unit

2. Chukka Caribbean Adventures TCI Ltd

3. COMO Parrot Cay

4. Customer Services Department

5. Department of Education

6. Department of Social Development & Welfare

7. Digicel TCI

8. F Chambers Attorneys at Law

9. Flamingo Pharmacy

10. Fortis TCI

11. Grant Thornton Turks and Caicos Ltd

12. Human Resources Management Directorate

13. Invest TCI

14. Morgue Department

15. Office of The Chief Internal Auditor

16. Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

17. Paradise Smiles Ltd – Turks and Caicos Islands Clinical Exploration Program

18. Public Works Department

19. TCI Airports Authority

20. TCI Financial Services Commission

21. TCI Sports Commission

22. TCI Football Association

23. Waterloo Hotel Management Ltd

29/08/2022

FINAL SOFT SKILLS TRAINING FOR THE TCI PILOT NATIONAL INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

The Employment Services Department hosted its second series of Soft Skills Training focusing on "Connecting the Dots". The National Skills Audit 2017 identified the soft skills gap within the TCI, and last week's session focused on the following skills: critical thinking, coordinating with others and quality control.

Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government aims to build our people's human capacity. Therefore, the Employment Services Department ensures that our interns have the necessary soft skills training to enhance their strengths and skills.

The training on Saturday, August 13th, 2022, was a two-part session that ran simultaneously throughout the day. The session's theme, "Connecting the Dots", focused on collaboration, conceptualisation and time management.

Ms. Denise Westcarr, Human Resources Manager of TCA Handling Flight Services Ltd., was the facilitator who provided training on teamwork and collaboration. During the session, Ms. Westcarr highlighted the importance of recognising and combining individual strengths and using them to achieve organisational goals. Additionally, she stated that collaboration fosters a healthy work environment, promotes innovation, and develops personal skills.

Mrs. Sophie Thomas of Fenelon Empowerment Services provided critical thinking and time management training. During the session, Mrs. Thomas provided the students with an Academic Action Plan that interns could use to manage their time wisely and achieve their personal and professional goals. In addition, Mrs Thomas emphasised the significance of training our minds to think by recognising, understanding and hypothesising the information presented.

"Having our students receive critical soft skills training allows us to address the needs stated in the National Skills Audit 2017 and Build Human Capacity. I am pleased that our students continue to take advantage of the opportunities for personal and professional development," commented Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister for Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services.

This session concludes the intern soft skills training. The apprenticeship program will have more in-depth soft skill training sessions scheduled to commence in September 2022 for 9 - 12 months.

29/08/2022

HON. RACHEL TAYLOR INSTERNSHIP SITE VISITS IN PROVIDENCIALES FOR THE TCI NATIONAL INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Hon. Rachel Taylor was with the privilege to visit Providenciales interns at their work experience sites on August 11th 2022. During Hon. Taylor visits; she shared inspiring words with our students, "I am with overwhelming joy to see each of you placed within alignment to your specific field of tertiary studies. We encourage each of you to do your best, as you are the narrators of your future."

The Ministry of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services is dedicated to Building Human Capacity within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

ENDS

23/08/2022

HON. RACHEL TAYLOR, MINISTER OF EDUCATION, ATTENDS BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS INTERN GRADUATION

The Honourable Rachel M. Taylor, Minister for Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services, attended Beaches Turks and Caicos Class of 2022 Intern Graduation held on August 12th, 2022. With a total of seventy-eight (78) graduates, the event was quite a joyful occasion.

The interns were honoured to be accepted into this six-week programme that gave them the chance to learn more about potential careers in the hospitality sector. The ceremony included a performance from Zoe Butler, a Human Resource intern.

This year's internship program honoured the Valedictorian, Roderick Munnings, Kids Camp and Pirates Island Intern. Munnings gave insight into his intern experience and highlighted that Beaches gave him his first training in the workforce.

In Honourable Taylor's remarks to the interns, she stated her Ministry's goal of Building Human Capacity and the current Ministry's initiatives. Hon. Taylor encouraged the students to continue taking advantage of all internship programs within the TCI. Speaking at the function, the Minister of Education remarked, "You are the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the more knowledge acquired, you are better positioned to lead."

The event, organised by Beaches Turks and Caicos, is in keeping with the Government’s mandate to facilitate and improve the engagement and development of stakeholders and public-private partnerships. The skills-based internship program designed by Beaches Turks and Caicos was developed to provide young persons in communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands with experience in the field of hospitality.

Hon. Taylor lauded and extended thanks to Beaches Turks and Caicos for their continuous effort in assisting the TCI in Building Human Capacity through their internship program.

18/08/2022