Employment Minister, Ian Douglas, has said the National Employment Program (NEP) will be expanded in 2016, noting that the government has taken pride in it.
“We are proud of this program and we will continue to enhance and expand the program as we continue to increase the investments in this and other employment initiatives,” he said in a statement.
Douglas noted that since its inception, some 1,499 Dominicans have benefited from the NEP.
“There are 1,113 interns presently engaged in the program,” he noted. “More than 50 persons have been able to secure permanent employment and another 34 have been placed on the 50-50 arrangement where the employers pay half of the interns’ salary and the government meets the other half.”
Furthermore, he pointed out that 120 have transitioned out of the NEP to permanent employment with other organization or for further studies overseas.
Douglas thanked partners in the public and private sector who supported the program by “providing the internship opportunities for our youth, especially those who have offered the opportunities of full-time employment to our interns.”
NEP was launched in 2013 and was originally intended to target 400 people but it grew as time went by.
It is a government initiative which employs a number of people, such as unemployed college and university graduates, by placing them in public and private sector firms. The government pays the salaries of those employed. The government has described it as a ‘tangible approach to tackling unemployment among the youth.’
At its conception NEP was funded to the tune of $7-million in grants from the government of Venezuela.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said the program would be reviewed and described talks that it is coming to an end as ‘scaremongering.’
That reminds me so much of the old Soviet Union, where everybody had a job but the economy was inefficient through central government control and the lack of investment. Farmers not interested in producing food for the state at intervention prices, a currency that became non-convertible while the party bonzes and their families lived in exclusive privilege. Of course we all know what happened. That system eventually collapsed because it simply was unsustainable.
How much of my friends have field out the NEP formss! I’m talking about recent graduates of 2015!!! who are fully qualified with one or two associate degrees to obtain a job in the NEP program.Up to know, not one!!!! Out of let’s say 10 have been called to work from NEP! Everybody running to clear harbour that is the onlyyy place where employment can be given for the youth of Dominica. if clear harbour close down I want to see what they would do.
Hmmmmm, sadly its coming soon. Mark my words
. Just like the by-elections now being discussed by the DLP because of two very sick ministers. Dca fe-ni-bat!
Assertive, NEVER Aggressive!
Shameless is truly your name just look at what you wishing for you country and its people
Directed to DNO or The Employment Minister – Ian Douglas…
Has the contact information for the contractors/architects of the Kempenski Resort at Cabrits been published as yet?
Has any information been disseminated about how one can tender/apply for a job on this project?
Has it been stated whether or not dominicans will be eligible for jobs on this project?
This project is expected to pay alot of tax to the Government. Let’s get it going so the Government can get more tax money to pay more NEP’s.
Excellent questions but for your information projects like this, if they get built, receive tax free concessions on equipment, supplies and materials plus a long tax break on profits, anything up to twenty years I believe. These profits could be repatriated i.e. they would not be subject to witholding tax and can be sent off shore. The only real plus points would be job opportunities for locals and the purchase of local supplies & services, such a fresh produce, fish, transport, etc.
deem little boy know northing about economics they have to move becaus we will get some war in dominica i tell u we have more guns on the street than in the house look out crimes will keep moving up a black more cant do norting about it doses little biys can not do covernment work for they have to go stop taking this thing for a game move get out man
Boy imagine best just rename your position to minister of unemployment. These sad and sorry cabals always there with some halfhearted April fools program which they come up with to counterattack the high unemployment scenario which they themselves created. Long gone are the days when Dominicans were self-sustaining people, the days when you could pass by DCP and find long lines of vehicles backing up all the way to Jimmit. Well this ain’t the 1990’s and early 2000’s anymore. Our once resilient people have now been turned into a bunch of beggars that exists in a Red Clinic society which is spearheaded by a guy who thinks that he is at the top of the food chain and everyone else are just peasants. Things are so bad in Dominica now that people are putting their unforeseen unborn future generations in debt. It’s true!!!! So much people that building houses and is their grandchildren that have to finish pay for it. Tell me I lying. Labor ka travay
More for students who support the labour party, stupes. Some people do not even have work to do, just there on facebook etc. And they getting paid for that. How many who not supporting the government that working. Kalinago affairs giving who they want job.
This shows how weak and this DLP Government cannot and have no clue how the create jobs and cut the high employment rate, Hey why don’t just put everyone who is unemployed into the N E P, like they do in the socialist paradise of “Cuba”
They everyone will have a job and be happy
One thing I know for sure is that darkness will disappear, only in the presence of light. Mr. mis-ni-ster, I am not sure if you are holding the torch-brearer.
We only hear but we never see. So SHUT UP ALREADY!!!
I hope this program can transition the workers and interns to long term sustainable work after it affords them work experience and training during the program. In this new global work culture this seems to be a good step, much like the americorp program here in the US. Good luck with it. Maybe the next step can be a CARICORP or a REP(regional employment program) where those in Da with skills needed in other CARICOM or OECS countries may be contracted out for a year or more period to gain varying types of experience and credentials while also providing service. Good Luck again.
i dont know how some Dominicans so stupid! things so hard in the country..the government is providing jobs for people and all some of you here can do is come talk crap! I am employed under the NEP and it is the best a very good programme u get your salary on time with no issues. ……… it dont have work u all shoud be happy people getting work for them to do..u know how hard it is not having a job………..and the peope under the programme do pay social security etc…….bunch of idiots coming here taking foolishness….i well glad i havea job shut up allu mouth if u all have nothing to say…many people are happy they expanding so they can get work.so long they not working…..stupid people if u all dont have annything positive to say about the programme shout that holw in allu faces!! Fools
I’m glad you’re having a good experience and that you’re able to make ends meet. Times are tough, and you’re doing what you have to do.
Still, you must understand that many people object to NEP because every expansion of it means that the Dominican economy has failed to create jobs in the private sector that don’t need to be funded by taxes or donors, and it’s those jobs that would actually help build economic prosperity in the country.
@ Steve Foerster:
Sir, you cannot reason with these ‘kids’.
They live from day to day, month to month, paycheck to paycheck.
Wait until they try to access loans in the bank for anything and you will see how they will realize NEP is just a fool’s paradise.
Those employers that have people at work on NEP do not pay the going wage because govt. is subsidising them so it is cheaper for them to have NEP people and throw regular workers out of a job and that is not fair competition either for those employers who can not get NEP workers.
I am happy you have some income but that programme is flawed, whichever way you look at it. That is false economy.
@bell97 You sound lazy and unemployed.Who can you fool? You are just one of the Greedies performing your slavish work for a corrupt gang!
A clear sign that things are getting worse in th country in terms of employment creation.These in the DLP are clueless with respect to how to create sustainable jobs for the poor people they fooled at the last election. In the meantime we are languishing as one of the poorest,most corrupt and backward country in the region….Things will only get better when this gang is booted out of office by the people.
Those in the DLP
% where did you got you stats on Dominica?
your…………… typo
Just shows how educated you are, The govt. has a central statistical office, which comes under the wing of the Ministry of Finance ( Prime Minister). They have to keep track of these figures, not only for their own planning but also for potential donors and lenders but the govt. does not always release them if the P.M. things it will have a negative impact on public opinion in Dominica itself.
More unproductive jobs that do not contribute anything to the economy. Pure socialist election propaganda at the tax payers’ expense and to massage the unemployment statistics.. Stimulate investment mr. Smartypants Douglas so that private industry can create real job opportunities.