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TRAINING AND PRODUCTIVE

DEVELOPMENT

Community-based training

Robert GregoryExecutive DirectorHEART Trust/NTA, Jamaica

36th Meeting of the Technical Committee of CINTERFOR/ILO July 29, 2003, La Antigua, Guatemala

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The main effect of globalization is to heighten competition worldwide and to increase the number of competitors. But this competition is not limited to enterprises. We must now consider the role that cities and regions play, since they are competing with each other to attract economic activity. Furthermore, this competition is becoming international, since the competitors are increasingly territories located in other countries.

(OECD Territorial Outlook 2001)

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EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION

Trade blocs protecting the interests of countries within given regions

Caribbean Single Market & Economy (CSME)

FTAA in the Caribbean 2006

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TRANSITION OF CARIBBEAN ECONOMY

PRIMARY SECTORS TERTIARY SECTORS

Agriculture-based Service-based

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SYMPTOMS OF WORKPLACE

TRANSFORMATION

new technologies

encompassing trade agreements

increased competition

new and growing education and skill

requirements

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SKILL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW WORK CULTURE

independence flexibility decision-making problem-solving initiative innovation critical thinking lifelong learning

C O M P E T E N C E

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EFFECTS OF WORKPLACE TRANSFORMATION

redundancies to cut costs, raise productivity and boost profit earnings

employees re-examining the marketability of their job skills

increased number of “own account”/self employed workers (40% of Jamaican workforce)

closure of non-competitive businesses

restructured businesses responding to customers more sophisticated demands

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BUSINESS SURVIVAL INCLUDES:

workforce quality (education, training, certification levels)

technology employed

market access

product quality and service distinction in the market

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THE NEW PARADIGM & COMMUNITY-BASED

APPROACHES TO EMPLOYMENT

o Enterprise success is tied to improving every process, produce and procedure

o Continuous learning is a requirement for job holders and entrepreneurs

o Being good is not good enough

o Jobs and people are portable because of globalized transportation and communication technology

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THE NEW PARADIGM & COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES TO EMPLOYMENT

(Cont’d)

o Jobs increasingly go to the highest-quality and most innovative workers at wages set by the world marketplace.

o The only job security is being a “vendor” who satisfies his/her customers’ present and future needs

o Talent comes from directed effort

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THE NTA’S RESPONSE

• policies and programmes promoting and encouraging income generating enterprises

• culture of service & enterprise integral to community-based training

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THE NTA’S RESPONSE (Cont’d)

• encourages the building of self-confidence

• skills imparted are relevant, practical and transferable

• fostering of creativity and innovation among trainees

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• entrepreneurial training included in all training programmes. Encourages values and attitudes which lead to success – self discipline, hard work, confidence, perseverance, a willingness to learn from mistakes.

THE NTA’S RESPONSE (Cont’d)

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While big businesses downsize, small businesses are mushrooming. Therefore, the NTA has been incorporating and emphasizing those skills to people which will result in their personal success, the eventual growth of our economies and the development and stabilization of our societies.

CONCLUSION