Caribbean Growth Forum Saint Kitts and Nevis Chapter SKILLS AND PRODUCTIVITY Soft Skills and Labor Management Relations Working Group WRAP UP SESSION February 26,

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