MEMBERS of Parliament are being encouraged to conduct their own screening and selection of suitable candidates for the Government’s overseas farm work programme as part of measures to ensure its sustainability and improve competitiveness while securing greater opportunities for Jamaicans.

This call comes from Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr, who said that this will be in line with the Administration’s move to introduce a range of strategies to boost the programme.

The programme has been dogged in recent times by complaints from employers about the quality of workers recruited from Jamaica, particularly regarding their poor work ethic.

In a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, Charles Jr said the Government had given a commitment last year to improve the selection process and better prepare Jamaican candidates to perform well when they go overseas.

He said that MPs are important to this process, hence the encouragement for them to screen and select potential candidates themselves, and he thanked those parliamentarians who have already been conducting this exercise.

Charles Jr told the House that to assist MPs with this recruitment effort, his ministry will be hosting two online sessions to provide guidance to them and/or the members of their constituency team who will be involved in conducting the pre-screening activities.

Both sessions will be held this Thursday, April 11.

Charles Jr reminded that candidates must satisfy the following requirements: Be 21 to 45 years of age, literate, hold a valid Jamaican passport, have National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Tax Registration Number (TRN), have no criminal record, be able to work long hours and perform tasks that are physically demanding.

In addition, the candidate should have experience in farming and preferably be registered with Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA); never been previously disqualified from participating in any of the ministry’s oerseas employment programmes due to medical or any other reason; and should not have been deported from any country.

The minister said that among the strategies the Government will be undertaking to improve the programme will be building the capacity and employability skills of workers through human resources development and training; improving service delivery to both workers and employers through the ministry and the liaison service; and strengthening the capacity of the programme to satisfy the needs of workers and employers.

“We are also enhancing the assessment process with a psychometric tool to get better insight into the personality profile, to determine best fit. As you know for success, your attitude — not your aptitude — determines your altitude,” he said.

He said the ministry will be collaborating with HEART/NSTA Trust to prepare workers for jobs through employment readiness training. Candidates will also engage in crop propagation courses at agricultural institutions.

“The measures…are aimed at improving the programme, building the trust and cooperation of workers and the long-term commitment of employers. These are important elements for the development and further growth of the programme,” he said.

In the meantime, in response to the concerns raised by several Opposition members about the lack of female recruitment, Charles Jr explained that this is out of the hands of the Government and is dependent on the demands of the employer.

“The reality is that when we speak about less women going on the programme, sometimes people may have the belief that it is the Government of Jamaica or you and I as Members of Parliament that dictate that. We don’t have that control; it’s a matter of demand and supply — and the demand comes from the employer. If the employer is making more requests then you will have more opportunities. If the employer makes less requests then you cannot force or compel them to take more persons,” he said.