Government expands summer employment programme
More Bermudian students will benefit from a government employment programme this summer, the Minister of Economy and Labour announced yesterday.
Jason Hayward told MPs that the Department of Workforce Development has increased its summer employment programme capacity from 130 to 180 placements.
The initiative offers Bermudian high school and university students opportunities to apply and expand their knowledge within a real workplace.
Mr Hayward said the programme aligned with the Government’s youth employment strategy aimed at increasing employment opportunities for young people in Bermuda.
He said: “Summer student placements provide an excellent opportunity for young Bermudians to gain practical experience in a range of fields while also contributing to the work of our government and the community.
“These placements are an investment in our future workforce and I am thrilled that we will be able to offer these opportunities to even more young Bermudians.”
He added that both students and employers benefited from the placements and believed they created many opportunities to grow.
Students enrolled in the university programme work in their field of study for ten weeks, learn more about government careers open to them after completing their degrees and earn $600 a week.
Eighty university students befitted from this initiative, which was given a $450,000 budget last summer.
Mr Hayward said: “This year, the department has reallocated $134,000 to support an additional 20 placements, making it possible for up 100 college and university students to participate.”
Participants must hold Bermudian status, be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university and have a GPA of 2.7 or higher.
Through the high-school summer placements, students aged 15 to 18 are mentored by professionals in private and public industries within four weeks and receive $1,600 at the end of the programme.
Mr Hayward said: “The number of placements has been increased by 60 per cent, from 50 to 80, increasing the budget from $80,000 to $116,000.”
The minister thanked the government departments and private companies for making the internships possible and encouraged other businesses to offer similar programmes to students.
He said: “It is crucial to provide our young people with opportunities for meaningful work experience, so that they, in turn, will become productive citizens within our community.
“I look forward to seeing the positive impact these programmes will have on the lives and careers of the young Bermudians who will participate.”
• The Government’s youth employment strategy can be found under “Related Media”
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