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Promotion of Employment as a Cross Cutting Concern of Social Policies “Livelihood Creation for Women Made Redundant by the Closure of the Sugar Industry in St. Kitts and Nevis Presented by Ian M Liburd Background • 350 year old industry • Shaped economic and social landscape • High production costs, decline in contribution to GDP and loss of preferential markets over the years • Closed in July 2005 Life after sugar? • 1,200 workers made redundant including 330 women • 81% of women employed in field operation • Women unskilled and lacked certification • One year later only 25% of women reemployed Retraining and Retooling • Persons interested in hospitality, construction, vehicle maintenance and agriculture • Training must reflect workers interests • Training should be based on market needs • Necessary to create opportunities for selfemployment and micro enterprise The manufacturing of school uniforms and industrial uniforms for the tourism sector • Assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank • Target 15 women from St. Pauls • Participants attended work/study attachment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Group started own business and now provide uniforms for government’s school uniform assistance programme Livelihood Creation • 30 women from sugar belt • Training in upholstery and tiling • Not many skilled in upholstery • Burgeoning construction industry Life Skills • Numeracy and Literacy • Self Esteem • Effective Communication • Parenting Skills • Relationship Skills • Good Business Practices • • • • • • Entrepreneurship Decision making, Professionalism Marketing Ethical Standards Budgeting and Record Keeping • Customer Service Positive Feedback • “Things I did not understand I was able to understand and now I will be able to do my own business” • “It was an eye opener for me” • “I was doing a lot of things wrong, now I know a little better” • “I learned that business planning and record keeping can tell me what is selling and who is buying” Contributing Factors of Success • • • • Effective partnership Marketing Constant motivation Built in quality control and additional opportunities • Monitoring and evaluation Effective Partnerships • • • • • • OAS and CDB for funding National Skills Training Programme Small Enterprise Development Unit Contractors’ Association The Community The Media Marketing • • • • Coverage on media Exhibitions Celebration Party after tiling was finished Sale of items at regional football tournament Visit by OAS Director Quality Control • Facilitators to offer quality control services • Apprenticeships • Additional training Monitoring and Evaluation • Engagement of Project Coordinator • Department will follow progress of women Conclusion • Number of women exposed to new skills that are used to reduce their poverty and improve their standard of living • Women are more empowered and now accept that there is life without sugar • Formation of lasting relationships which they can rely on for future advancement. • Creation of employment (inclusive of self-employment) • Provision of income generating capacity Thanks/Gracias ANY QUESTIONS?