THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security has announced that it will be undertaking a pre-selection exercise for both the Canadian and the United States Farm Work Programmes over the three-week period July 7-28, 2014.

The disclosure was made through the portfolio minister, Derrick Kellier, during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives last week.

He explained that, in an effort to reduce cost and enhance greater efficiency, this year’s recruitment exercise will see the ministry maintaining one pool of workers for both the United States and Canadian programmes.

“Additionally, the recruitment exercise this year will see accredited local government councillors joining with members of Parliament, trade unions and various civic groups in the distribution of application forms for the programmes,” Kellier said.

He informed that the allocation of forms, specifically to members of Parliament, will be determined based on whether their respective constituencies are urban or rural.

With that as a policy, the minister advises that members of Parliament from rural constituencies can now expect to receive a greater number of application forms vis-à-vis their urban counterparts.

Prospective candidates must ensure that they are between the ages of 21-45, have farming experience, possess certified copies of their birth certificates, are literate, of good character, in good health, and possess a valid Jamaican passport (burgundy in colour) or the new Caricom passport (navy blue in colour). At best, applicants should have a clean criminal record; have not been deported from any country; and have not been previously disqualified from any overseas employment programme due to medical or other reasons.

In addition, all forms are to be completed and submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security by June 16, 2014. Applications should be accompanied by a passport-sized photograph of the candidate and a character reference either from a former employer, a justice of the peace or a police officer.

“Candidates who are successful in the interviews will be fingerprinted and their prints sent to the Criminal Records Office to determine criminal antecedents. Those found to have criminal records will be rejected from the programme,” Kellier warned.