Government is opening a new front in the war on unemployment -- signalling hope for "wall sitters'' and former prisoners.

The venture is also designed to brush up Bermudians' skills for the modern workplace.

Labour Minister Quinton Edness yesterday said training and re-training schemes would be boosted through the joint efforts of Government and private enterprise.

The programmes would be coordinated by a new National Training Board, legislation for which had been tabled in the House of Assembly.

The Board would work with employers in setting up apprenticeship schemes, with successful trainees receiving certificates.

Mr. Edness said the Board would take over the role of the Apprenticeship and Training Council (ATC) -- and greatly enhance it.

It would concentrate not only training for trades, the main focus of the ATC.

Other areas such as computer technology, clerical duties, administration and hotel work would also be covered.

"This is one of Government's major initiatives and will expand our training capability,'' Mr. Edness declared.

"It is a vast initiative which Government sees as essential for the future.

The object is to ensure all Bermudians are trained and competent wherever they should work in the world.'' Mr. Edness said the new training Board -- funding for which was set aside in the last Budget -- should be up and running by the fall.

And a frontrunner to head it was Paget Wharton, chairman of the Apprenticeship and Training Council, he added.

Also on the Board would be a deputy chairman and 13 members.

"I hope the legislation will be dealt with before the summer recess,'' said Mr. Edness, believing it would attract cross-party support.

The National Training Board Bill 1997 -- tabled in the House of Assembly last Friday -- repeals the Apprenticeship and Training Act 1971.

According to the legislation, the functions of the new Board would include taking steps to ensure: An "adequate supply of trained manpower in occupations in all branches of economic activity''; The quality and efficiency for training apprentices and trainees was improved; Work testing and, when deserved, "certificates of efficiency'' were handed out.

disputes between apprentices and employers, help bosses provide on-the-job training and assist Bermudians in finding placements.

Tax rebates would be used to encourage employers to have structured training programmes.

The legislation also states an employer, subject to the Board's approval, should appoint a person responsible for the supervision of apprentices.

This person would also be responsible for the "day to day'' guidance of trainees.

According to the Bill, the Board would be expected to regularly hand the Labour Minister a report on its activities, as well as its policy and programmes.

Yesterday Mr. Edness said the training schemes would help all job-seeking Bermudians, whatever their ages and backgrounds.

Overseas students hungry for employment once they return would also receive help.

"We are setting up a register of all Bermudian students studying overseas.'' He added: "We are not only going to deal with those who can fairly easily get themselves employed.

"We are also going to try to assist and train people who have found themselves in trouble with the law.'' Mr. Edness said he was convinced a reason for Bermuda's high recidivism rate -- the number of repeat offenders -- was the difficulty in ex-convicts finding work.

"We need to develop programmes to help them when they return to society.'' Mr. Edness said the programmes would also help "wall sitters'' eager for work.