Young people line up to take advantage of public works jobs a few months ago.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has claimed that many of the hundreds of individuals recruited by the Public Works Department have abandoned their jobs because they simply do not want to work.
The Prime Minister made the remarks in Parliament on Tuesday while responding to concerns raised by Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle regarding reports that some newly hired workers had been instructed to stay home pending further calls from the department.
Browne rejected suggestions that the government had dismissed workers, insisting there was no policy decision to terminate employees.
Instead, he said many of the approximately 700 to 800 people recruited through the programme stopped reporting for duty on their own.
“We have a problem,” Browne told Parliament. “A number of them don’t want to work.”
According to the Prime Minister, the recruitment drive was launched as part of a deliberate effort to absorb remaining unemployment and provide opportunities to individuals who might otherwise struggle to find employment.
He said the hiring criteria were intentionally kept low and that many recruits were assigned to road maintenance, roadside cleaning, beautification projects and repainting public buildings.
Browne said the government even targeted individuals considered at risk, including young people known to be involved in drug use and other negative activities, in an effort to steer them toward productive employment.
“We sought them out,” he said. “We wanted to provide them an opportunity to work.”
The Prime Minister disclosed that many workers failed to show up consistently, while others left altogether. He said some individuals preferred to retain other jobs while attempting to secure government employment without fully committing to the work.
Browne acknowledged that keeping some recruits engaged has proven difficult but said the government would continue trying to find opportunities for vulnerable young people.
“We’re not going to give up on them,” he stated.
The Prime Minister added that one of the government’s objectives is to prevent idle young people from becoming involved in criminal activity by ensuring they have access to employment opportunities.
Now ask Gaston about salaries
You are so right PM. Tight now work cant done in Antigua. Everybody have a job and more than one jobs. Plus alot of these giys the way they came in for work…looking like thugs you know they dont want no work to do
True facts, lots of them was just liming and before ten o clock they already left the job, no
Alot of these guys you could see they were not serious
Some of them took leave from their main job to come and form fool on government jon
Just asking if its paid weekly, or monthly or its a 3 months work and then they get paid after that period..its a serious question as salaries could be a motivation if there is an extended wait period
I hope those people criticismg the government will know the truth now
How they dont want to work and all work stop. Most of the roadworks stopped so what exactly are you saying Gassy Dread.
I believe the PM and I applaud all those who decided to stay on
The get pay because I have people working on that same program and they get pay up to last Friday they get pay they just don’t want to work but walk and thief people subben to dahm lazy
I knew them guys were just trying to make a quick money during elections