EFFORTS are being made to update and expand the operations of the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), so that it can better serve the public and contribute to the Administration’s effort to minimise unemployment in Guyana.The unit intends to expand its services to Regions 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 with a view to increasing its presence throughout the country. Minister in the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes, during a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that this process would be driven by a survey to determine the true state of unemployment locally.
“We are looking to deal with unemployment in the country; and at the end of our five years, we can give you accurate statistics, because the statistics department is up and functioning. We are expanding all those departments, so that we can get real numbers; and not just numbers out of the sky, like what was happening. We ought to have a decent arrangement, and we are talking about transparency, and the government is definitely hoping for that,” she explained.
It is believed that the local unemployment figures are high, and mostly young people are falling into the category of unemployed. According to Minister Broomes, expanding the role of the CRMA across the country would bring job seekers and job providers into contact with each other.
“We have been placing persons, and we want to place more persons; and now the companies, they are excited. In fact, it was well underplayed. They never knew that there is a recruitment and manpower section, and lots of Guyanese do not know about it, so they are not going in. So, now, the companies, they are happy to know that they can just call and get qualified persons to fill their vacancies,” Minister Broomes revealed.
The CRMA, traditionally known as the Labour Exchange or Employment Bureau, is the unit within the Ministry of Social Protection that is responsible for the recruitment and placement of human resources, in keeping with vacancies advertised by employers. (GINA)
