Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

More young people given summer job opportunities

Work opportunities: Premier Paula Cox and Economy Minister Patrice Minors with some of the summer interns who are being helped by a $120,000 boost to a summer jobs programme.

Government has pumped an extra $120,000 into an employment programme meaning 120 more students will have jobs this summer.Premier Paula Cox said the funds will mainly be diverted from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.A Bill passed by the House of Assembly last July allowed Government access to an unused $1 million it stashed away in that fund back in 2002.It was decided that it was better to spend the money on helping unemployed college and high school students straight away.Ms Cox made the announcement of what she described as a “feel good moment” due to this summer’s “immediate injection of funds” yesterday.Prior to the announcement, 100 young people had already been placed in a summer employment programme and 200 in a summer internship programme.Government pays a stipend to the employers, meaning they get the young person without having to pay them.Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors said that, thanks to the funding boost from the Ministry of Finance, an extra 20 college students started jobs yesterday.It is anticipated that a further 100 young people will be helped into employment later this summer.Mrs Minors appealed to businesses to get in touch if they can help with jobs. She said young people are accepted into the programme subject to suitable grades and resumes.