MINISTRY OF LABOUR 1 THE BARBADOS LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEM “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating.” Kofi Annan Seventh secretary-general of the United Nations

INTRODUCTION Globalization has changed the realities of developing countries Provides opportunities for growth and development Creates the need to be more internationally competitive MINISTRY OF LABOUR 2

3 INFORMATION Stresses the importance of the Barbados Labour Market Information System (BLMIS) to better equip all decision makers in the labour market with RELEVANT, TIMELY, ACCURATE information.

WHAT REALLY IS THE BLMIS? MINISTRY OF LABOUR 4 LMI PRODUCERS LMI USERS Data CollectionAnalysis Dissemination The BLMIS is a network where LMI producers & users interact

WHAT REALLY IS THE BLMIS? MINISTRY OF LABOUR 5 A LMIS is defined as “a set of institutional arrangements, procedures and mechanisms that are designed to co-ordinate the collection, processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination of Labour market Information.” (Mangozho, ILO)

STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION Introduce the primary LMI producers Highlight the LMI users Explain the institutional arrangements that exist in the BLMIS Highlight challenges to the development of the BLMIS Make recommendations to enhance the BLMIS. MINISTRY OF LABOUR 6

7 LMI PRODUCTION Key LMI Producers Barbados Statistical Services Population & Housing Census Continuous Labour Force Sample Survey (CLFSS) Produces key LMI indicators such as participation & unemployment rates. Information is disaggregated by Gender, Age, Occupation, Industry etc. Survey of Employees, Earnings and Hours (SEEH) Survey of Labour Cost & Wages (SLCW)

LMI PRODUCTION Key LMI Producers Cont’d Barbados Investment Development Corporation Employment figures for Manufacturing, Information Services & Professional/Technical Services Labour Department Industrial Relations Occupational Safety & Health Employment Services MINISTRY OF LABOUR 8

LMI PRODUCTION Key LMI Producers Cont’d Immigration Department Work Permits National Insurance Department Social Security Information Barbados National Productivity Council Productivity Indicators MINISTRY OF LABOUR 9

LMI PRODUCTION Key LMI Producers Cont’d Ministry of Education and Training Institutions Education Statistics Research Agencies University of the West Indies SALISES Central Bank of Barbados Ministry of Labour MINISTRY OF LABOUR 10

DISSEMINATION OF LMI Primarily available in hard copy Primarily disseminated at the policy and enterprise level Limited availability on the internet MINISTRY OF LABOUR 11

BLMIS Employees Self- Employed/ Employer Employee/ Employer Organization Training Institutions JobseekersStudents Researchers Policy Makers LMI USERS 12 MINISTRY OF LABOUR

LMI USERS Cont’d POLICY APPLICATIONS The BLMIS supports the Ministry of Labour effort to achieve its mission: “To assist the Government and its Social Partners in promoting opportunities for the provision of decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom of association, equity, security and human dignity and to provide quality social and economic benefits for Barbadians.” MINISTRY OF LABOUR 13

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS The Ministry of Labour acts as the coordinating agency that would manage the flow of information between LMI producers and users. Manpower Research and Statistical Unit (MRSU) is responsible for managing and developing the BLMIS. MINISTRY OF LABOUR 14

MORE ABOUT THE MRSU Established in 1981 as the research arm of the Ministry of Labour Restructured to manage and co- ordinate the BLMIS in 1999 Was directed to compile LMI from the various producers and disseminate it more effectively to the LMI users. MINISTRY OF LABOUR 15

BLMIS PRODUCTS MINISTRY OF LABOUR 16 Hard Copy Publications Statistical Bulletins & Digests Features key LMI from the various producers Provides analysis on developments in the labour market. Newsletters The Barbados Standard Occupational Classification System (BARSOC) Public Outreach Activities

BLMIS PRODUCTS Cont’d: The BLMIS Website Found at First launched in 1998 Act as an electronic “clearing house” of labour information and statistics. Currently being restructured and upgraded. Expected relaunch in July, 2009 MINISTRY OF LABOUR 17

THE LMIAC Was managed by the MRSU Tripartite in structure Consisted of LMI producers and users Provided feedback on the BLMIS website and made recommendations on how to enhance the BLMIS MINISTRY OF LABOUR 18

THE CLMIS PROJECT Was a major developmental stage for the BLMIS Provided technical assistance and initial funding for building and enhancing the capacity for the production and use of labour market information in various Caribbean countries. MINISTRY OF LABOUR 19

OUTPUTS FROM CLMIS PROJECT Enhancement of the CLFSS Updating of the BARSOC Enhancement of the national productivity indicators MINISTRY OF LABOUR 20

OUTPUTS FROM CLMIS PROJECT Cont’d Enhancement of the Quarterly Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours (SEEH) Introduction of the Annual Survey of Labour Cost and Occupational Wage Rates Development of a Barbados Labour Market Information Plan MINISTRY OF LABOUR 21

CHALLENGES TO LMIS Inadequate financial and human resources (Limits funding for technological developments, inadequate staffing) Poor response rate for surveys conducted Respondents do not recognize the importance of LMI Survey Fatigue MINISTRY OF LABOUR 22

CHALLENGES TO LMIS Cont’d Users are unaware of all the LMI available Inadequate co-operation and collaboration between producers The application of various classification systems Varying schedules for the release of LMI from various producers. MINISTRY OF LABOUR 23

RECOMMENDATIONS Institutional Strengthening of LMI producers Should involve detailed organizational analysis Increased use of available technologies e.g. The BLMIS Website Will feature an online statistical database Promotion and Training MINISTRY OF LABOUR 24

RECOMMENDATIONS Cont’d To restructure and reactivate the Labour Market Information Advisory Committee Must have a clear mandate Will support the implementation of previous recommendations Identify LMI gaps Support the development and implementation of labour market policies MINISTRY OF LABOUR 25

THE END THANK YOU FOR LISTENING MINISTRY OF LABOUR 26