Minister backs new employment agencies |09 May 2009

This was done through visits to the agencies by Minister for Employment and Human Resources Development Macsuzy Mondon and principal secretary Jean Raguin.

During her calls, Mrs Mondon talked to those managing the agencies and to jobseekers. She also outlined her ministry’s objectives concerning the agencies and discussed the challenges they face.

The team visited SMS based at Anse Aux Pins and run by Sylvia Stravens, HEG cleaning and employment agency at Roche Caïman and Job Plus at Oceangate House, headed by Wendy Didon.

They were briefed on the wide range of services offered, which include registration, training and recruitment support.
HEG is headed by Henry Hoareau, Elizabeth Charles and Gerard Adonis, and Mr Hoareau briefed the visitors on what they offer, including cleaning services.

This work was previously done by the Employment Department but has been privatised after restructuring in the ministry to encourage individuals to join this line of business.

“The aim of the visits was to see how far the agencies have got, what they are offering and their difficulties,” said Mrs Mondon.

“This will help the department to have a better view of how support can be given to them.”
Mrs Mondon said the importance of these agencies is that they are offering a wider range of services than the department had previously done.

She said training is an important aspect as many people are moving from one work field to another and more skills development is needed.

The ministry will later host a meeting with the three groups to set up procedures on relaying information so the department can better monitor the movement of employment.

This will help unemployment figures to fall gradually and stay at a lower level.
With organisations or businesses that recruit expatriate workers, the ministry will insist they visit the employment agencies first to see whether there are jobseekers here who can fill the posts before permission is given to bring in foreign workers.