Dionne Rose, Staff ReporterTHE MINISTRY of Labour and Social Security will be opening a new office in Leam-ington, Canada, on February 5 as its Overseas Employment Programme expands.
Barrington Bailey, senior director of Manpower Services in the ministry, told The Gleaner that there was a demand for Jamaican workers in Leamington and that the Toronto office in Canada was too far away to meet these needs.
GREENHOUSES
"There are a number of greenhouses in that area," he said. "The Toronto office is four hours drive (away), so we are bringing the office to them (the employers)."
Mr. Bailey said the Leam-ington office, which will be headed by Stephen Day, will be officially opened in March and should be up and running by next month. Meanwhile, Mr. Bailey said the office is projecting to recruit about 300 to 500 workers for that area in March.
The ministry will also be recruiting female workers because the Canadian employers are requesting them, he said. Already some 25 females were on the programme.
The workers will be recruited to do hydroponics farming.
Mr. Bailey warned prospective workers not to use the programme to traffic drugs. He said, "They (prospective workers) will be screened and thoroughly checked both here in Jamaica and on landing in Canada."
