Employment top objective

MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT LEVELS in the public sector despite the global economic situation remains central to the Government of Barbados.
This was outlined by Senator Harry Husbands, Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, who said, “Despite the current economic hardship and critical financial situation, it was the Government’s policy not to lay off staff within the public sector.”
Speaking at a training course on Manpower Audit and Business Process Improvement at Almond Bay, Hastings, Husbands outlined several strategies undertaken by the Government to treat the global economic downturn.
Husbands said the other strategies to maintain employment levels were the rationalising of jobs and the elimination of wastage.
Senator Husbands told the gathering that rationalising the posts was a strategy to ensure that the posts provided to public sector organisations are used for the purposes intended and that the persons who occupy such posts were being utilised efficiently and effectively; or, if necessary, reallocating and redeploying human resources and functions as necessary.
The other critical intervention, the elimination of wastage, was to focus on moving extravagance as it relates to expenditure and management of affairs within governable limits.
Husbands also outlined the importance of the workshop, which was critical to improving the skills of officers within the public sector.
The week-long training course is being facilitated by Consultancy and Development International, whose director Tony Lavender
is in the island to conduct the training.  Representatives from the public sector and other participants involved in the training will cover aspects of the United Kingdom Chartered Management Institute’s Management Consulting Essentials Certificate. (LK)