Economist backs job drive but urges phased hiring

Senior Reporter

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Economist Dr Vaalmiki Arjoon says that while the Government’s proposed employment drive will increase the national wage bill, the economic benefits are expected to outweigh the costs.

However he cautions that due to the country’s current financial position, vacancies should be filled in a phased basis.

Speaking on Monday in Couva, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the unfreezing of hiring in the government sectors and instructed her ministers to fill all vacancies across the ministries.

Persad-Bissessar said, “There are about 20,000 vacancies.”

On assuming office the United National Congress (UNC) government implemented a freeze on hiring and advertising across state enterprises.

Commenting on Monday’s announcement, Arjoon said while the vacancy level was alarmingly high, “if filled, it can deliver material labour-market and service-delivery gains in the public service.”

Arjoon said it would not only lower the unemployment rate but could potentially absorb many qualified university graduates who he said, “for years have not found jobs, especially in areas requiring specific skill sets in the public service like ICT, audit, project management etc.”

He believes this would also be a step in the right direction in addressing public-service efficiency.

“Many backlogs stem from thin staffing and mismatched skills, but prioritising hires in areas such as digitisation, case management, inspection, and procurement can accelerate throughput, clear backlogs, and strengthen accountability.”

Acknowledging the inevitable rise in the wage bill, Arjoon proposed measures the government could adopt to generate the revenue needed to cover it.

“Some partial room to help pay the higher wage bill can be created by cutting wastage and reprioritising existing outlays, such as lowering excessive rental fees (over TT$490 million last year), tightening controls where the Auditor General identified spending without proper approvals or documentation, and redirecting funds away from low-impact programmes.”

The economist is also suggesting that due to the country’s overall fiscal constraints, government should consider filling these vacancies in a phased intake of over two years, which he said will keep the fiscal deficit and debt stable.

“This should be paired with deletion of obsolete positions and measurable productivity reforms, so the increase in staffing translates into service gains rather than simply an increase in payroll.”

On Monday the Prime Minister also took a subtle aim at the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme. Persad-Bissessar said she was committed to creating sustainable jobs and added, “Let Faris (Al-Rawi), the PNM MP’s, the commentators, and the one per cent send their children to cut grass and clean drains.”

Arjoon said he did not perceive that as a sign that Persad-Bissessar would be shutting down CEPEP.

“Reforming this program must emphasise skills building, in accredited areas like OSH, landscaping, waste management etc. enabling them to transition to the private sector within a year. The program can also incorporate an agriculture track to support domestic food production.”

ECA hopes hirings follow due process

Meanwhile, the Employers’ Consultative Association (ECA) said that while job creation was “always a good thing,” it was important to follow established procedures when filling vacancies.

ECA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ronald Ramlogan told Guardian Media, “if we are hiring for competence and we’re hiring based on specific needs that exist within those various ministries and the objective is to appropriately fill those vacancies with candidates that can perform in the role competently, then that can only be done by due process and ensuring that the vacancies are filled based on established criteria, skills and qualifications or performance requirements as the case may be.”

Ramlogan said it is imperative that those vacancies are filled with people who are competent enough to deliver and not perpetuate the perception of inefficiency that has dogged the public service.

“Then hiring based on skills, qualifications, experience, and competence that is attendant to the needs of the positions available is the only way to go.”

Ramlogan advised the public to be employment-ready which he said goes beyond simply updating a resume.

“I would suggest maybe that employment security is even more important than job security so that as things change, as opportunities arise, as conditions change, whether you remain in a specific role, in a specific job, in a specific company, or you are employable enough to adapt and transition, you know, it speaks to resiliency. It’s not a one-time activity.”