AHTA and Labour Identify Shortage

Details

Tourism News

Monday, 18 January 2010 05:55

By caribarena

The Ministry of Labour and the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association (AHTA) are teaming up to address the shortage of nationals who reach the top of the hospitality and tourism industry.

Minister of Labour Dr Errol Cort and Labour Commissioner Hesketh Williams met with leaders in this sector to determine the cause of the imbalance, where after 50 years, only a few have made it to the top.  

Thursday’s meeting, according to a joint statement, came as a result of Dr Cort’s desire to ensure that mechanisms are put in place within the hotel industry to allow nationals to have effective upward mobility.

The minister expressed concern over the number of hotel work permit applications being made to the Labour Department, especially for positions that nationals could easily fill.

In light of this, Dr Cort requested of the delegation that each hotel devise a human resource plan that would facilitate this upward mobility.  

According to a joint statement, the hoteliers said there were many reasons for the shortage, principle among them that the industry was never considered a valued career choice.

“This however, has shifted,” the statement said. “The last few years have seen Antiguans take up executive positions in hotels. The majority of these persons are employed in the culinary field however, with only a select few in general management positions.”

The hoteliers added that whilst efforts were underway in most hotels to develop local talent and prepare persons for the top positions, a co-ordinated approach needs to be adopted. The hoteliers agreed, through the AHTA, to work with the Ministry of Labour to chart the way forward.  

General Manager of the AHTA Neil Forrester said, “The solution is long term and needs to start with preparing young children in our primary schools, and the AHTA is currently working with the Ministries of Tourism and Education to reintroduce the Hello Tourist programme for grade six students.”

The hoteliers welcomed the recent positive changes at the Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute, stating that the institution must play a prominent role in preparing students for the industry.

It is envisioned that the planned expansion of the Institute through funding from the 11th EDF project will further allow the Institute to play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of nationals desirous of entering the industry.  

It was also opined that persons in the industry need to take ownership of their personal development. Forrester said scholarships are available with the Caribbean Hotel Association Education Foundation, but the AHTA and the Ministry of Labour will be working together to source additional scholarships so that young people can travel overseas to get a world class industry education.

He added that the aim of programmes like the CaribCert Employee certification is to see all hotel industry workers with an internationally recognized certification for the position they hold.

Designer Preston Bailey to Headline Caribbean Bride Magazine Antigua St. John's - Caribbean Bride Magazine is pleased to announce that international award-winning event and wedding designer Preston Bailey will b... read more

The AHTA will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Labour which will, amongst other things, establish a framework for ensuring that nationals have full upward mobility in the hotel sector. This MOU is likely to be signed between the parties within the next 30 days.

 

• < Prev
• Next >