Talkback Thursday |Train our Jamaican young men

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said Jamaica may have to import skilled labourers because of a shortage in the labour force. We asked our social media followers their thoughts on the hiring of overseas labourers.

Well, I am certain that many people have skills. It is just that they cannot manage formal academics. They are more than able to do great construction work but if you are gonna want degrees, they will not possess those. You cannot marginalise people because they don’t fit the requirement of formal academic standards. Meet people where they are in order to get good results. The men and women CAN do the work! What does he want as a prime minister? People who are good on paper but do not have the requisite skill set or people who, if given the chance, can build excellent structures?

– @jamasian_d0ll_876_

But hasn’t this been happening for years? I recall a Spanish hotel construction, for example? We already have Chinese workers (skilled or unskilled, I don’t know) on at least one project on our neighbourhood.

– @Petchary

The same foolishness that has been going on for years & has led to Jamaica slowly selling itself out. If you can’t find “skilled labourers” maybe it’s because we need to train some? And provide funding for the training & transportation to people in rural areas who want work.

– @WatsonJay_

Yes please, it is extremely difficult to get trained and professional workers because our people just don’t want to. From digging out hand middle to scamming and murdering, our youths are just not willing to work nor are they willing to get trained.

– Teena McClear

The young boy dem busy a scam.

– Marsha Peart

Not a wise decision, should train our Jamaican young men.

– Paulette Stephenson

Make no sense at all. Madness. You’re boycotting the resources within the country.

– Marc Wint

Jamaicans are resilient, creative, well skilled. Most have the skill, not the certification, but can complete a given task. Put the task before them, let them come in ask them to show their skill. Most learn from many sites they have been on. It’s oftentimes the process that makes a person think twice. Show a man that no matter who or where you from, the system is there for them. See what happen.

– Al Reid

Not every people inna di scamming ting. Some of them are hard-working. No need to import any foreign workers.

– Cigar Cigar

There’s no “magic bullet” to solving the labour shortage. It’s going to take a multitude of solutions and approaches working in concert with each other to create a pipeline of workers to meet the growing demands of construction for the next 10, 20 or 30 years.

– Audley Phillip