Progressive Labour Party leader hopeful Terry Lister has pledged to increase funding to the National Training Board (NTB) if elected.

And he plans to encourage businesses to send employees overseas on work placements to increase the level of training and growth Bermudians receive.

Mr. Lister held a town hall meeting on Thursday night on labour and immigration issues. It is the sixth one he has held since announcing his bid for leadership.

He told the audience he believed increasing the number of skilled and certified Bermudian craftsmen was a good start to dealing with Bermuda's growing unemployment. He commended the NTB for bringing back a certification system for tradesmen.

"While there is much more to be done, the NTB has made great strides towards training Bermudians for skilled jobs," he said. "As leader of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party, I will, in these difficult economic times, increase the funding to the NTB as these monies represent an investment in our people. The fastest area of job growth today is technical jobs so we must train in this area."

Mr. Lister continued: "We must tie the technical programmes in our senior, and even middle schools, to the needs of the workplace. The opportunities must exist for all who are interested.

"We must not direct a certain type of student to the trades but must allow students to follow their interests. Thus I will ensure that as curriculum is being designed for our school system, it is what is needed for future workplace success."

He added that employees must commit to allowing their staff time to get certified and encouraging on-site training.

In particular he noted that overseas work placements would be beneficial to the Island.

"As leader of the PLP Government, I will encourage companies to send Bermudians overseas to work and grow," he said. "This applies equally to accountants and bankers as it does to chefs and bakers. Off-Island work experience will serve to clearly illustrate to the worker the international standard that we must strive to reach."

Mr. Lister said he will also create a programme to assist recent university graduates find job opportunities in the public and private sector.