BIT aims to meet labour force needs in 2024

In an effort to improve the skill set of persons, to enable them to participate in Guyana’s rapid transformation, and to simultaneously meet the demand for skilled workers on the labour market, Government will be expanding the work programme of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) for 2024.
According to subject Minister Joseph Hamilton, the Labour Ministry is currently formulating a plan to add an innovative component to the training being administered by BIT aside from the courses currently being offered, which include electrical installation, solar photovoltaic, building construction, heavy duty operation, welding and fabrication, motor vehicle servicing and repairs, and Joinery, among others.
This aspect of BIT’s 2024 work plan would equip participants with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), mechanical and technical skills needed to build machinery and repair spare parts for various equipment.
Minister Hamilton has said the goal is to create job opportunities for Guyanese in the service delivery sector, while ensuring more locals gain employable skills in 2024.
“Our submission for budgetary allocation takes into consideration increase and improvement of facility, or people to be trained, expanding further into areas that we might not have touched in a holistic way; and, of course, continue and develop collaboration with other partners,” the Minister said, adding that the build-out of new training facilities across the country would complement the initiative.
The new facilities include those in New Amsterdam and Corriverton in Region Six; Bartica in Region Seven; and Lethem and North Rupununi in Region Nine. Structures in these areas, along with the facility at Unity, Mahaica, Region Four, are about thirty percent complete, with completion deadlines set for March, 2024.
The facility at Unity would play a pivotal role in licensing and accrediting skilled persons who work in various sectors in construction and mining but are not certified.
Hamilton has said that work is ongoing to finalise the accreditation criteria for the programme, and several investment partners are being engaged to support the initiative.