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Caribbean Growth ForumSaint Kitts and Nevis

ChapterSKILLS AND PRODUCTIVITY

Soft Skills and

Labor Management RelationsWorking Group

WRAP UP SESSIONFebruary 26, 2013

Soft Skills

• Skills and Productivity• Attitudes• Values• Ethics• Moral Fibre

Vision

• To recognise, invest in and build a world class group of nationals to drive growth and competitiveness for the success of the Federation- Excited, well-motivated workforce

• How do we get there?

Way Forward

• Facilitate the development of an enhanced sense of self for citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis

• Develop core national values• Recognize and value need of labour and skills

to competitiveness and economic growth• Recognize that skills and productivity are key

to economic productivity

Way Forward

• Encourage corporate competitiveness• Include Public Sector and use it as a catalyst

using its size and public perception. The Private Sector will then take the lead from the public sector

Way Forward

• Look at regional models eg. NISE initiative in Barbados

• Train the trainers especially teachers who are a key contact with out youth.

• Examine existing Institutions and programmes of value – UWI Open Campus, Child Friendly School Initiative, Ideal Caricom Citizen, public service

Challenges

• Political will• Wide buy in• Funding• Lack of human resources• Structure of the Civil Service• Need for youth curriculum reform

Who

• Civil Service – if there is public sector reform it will lead national transformation

Labour Management Relations

• The level of labour management in the country is an impediment to national growth and development

• The vision is thus to improve the level of labour management relations so as to improve growth and productivity

Background

• Attitudes in public sector is different to attitudes in private sector

• Management’s enforcement of rules is stronger in the private sector

• The level of productivity in private sector is therefore higher than public sector

Challenges

• Managers need more training especially in Human Resources

• Political aspects should be separated when dealing with work related procedures

• Dual standards exist eg. one for senior staff and anther for other levels of staff

• There should be more team work• Universal standards should be better enforced

Way Forward

• Human Resource Management is the key to an analysed and measured strategy that will lead to a more productive workforce

• This strategy should be developed on a national level