Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes, on Saturday said he was pleased with the Labour on the Blocks Job Fair: over 1,000 people turned up hoping to find employment or better opportunities.

The job fair, said the Minister, was very important as the Labour Department in Freeport receives a number of requests for Labour Certificates. These, he said, are known as NOVs or Notice of Vacancies and in order for a company to get a work permit, they must demonstrate that there are no Bahamians available to fill the position.

While there are a number of work permits being sought for Freeport, the Minister said those companies were invited to participate in the job fair and interview residents. He said, “I know for sure there are at least five companies here, who are actively seeking to fill vacancies in their organizations now, not in a week or two weeks.”

Stating that a number of the major companies on island were present, Minister Foulkes added that Baha Mar is hiring as they are about to open Rosewood soon and they will be hiring about 1,000 people.

“The most important thing in this exercise, is all of the job seekers in Grand Bahama who are here, and I’m getting different estimates from 1,000 to 1,500, they will be registered in our data base.” Whenever the Ginn Project begins to recruit and that’s going to be hundreds of people; the start of Oban Energies in East Grand Bahama and the reopening of the hotels on the Lucayan Strip, those individuals will be in the database, registered.

“All of the job seekers who came here today will be ahead of the game.”

He said that there were people willing to work, and it was evident by the numbers standing in line for hours.

During the job fair, there were a few companies prepared to hire if suitable applicants were found.

Companies represented on Saturday included University of The Bahamas, Freeport Container Port, Grand Bahama Shipyard, the Airport Company, National Workers Credit Union, Baha Mar, Rev/Aliv, Freeport Ship Services, Pelican Bay, Pineyard Technical Centre, Candid Security and Global Tech.

GREETING EMPLOYMENT SEEKERS – Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes, was present for the Labour on the Blocks Job Fair at the Susan J. Wallace Park on Saturday. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

GATHERING INFORMATION – Those looking for opportunities to work had their information entered in the Department of Labour’s database during the Labour on the Blocks Job Fair on Saturday in Freeport. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

By Robyn Adderley