A one stop career centre will be open next week to help people find jobs, according to Junior Labour Minister Walter Roban.

Mr. Roban listed the measure among a number of tactics aimed at helping Bermudian job-seekers through the tough economic times. He was speaking to the House of Assembly yesterday in a Budget debate on Labour and Training which has seen its overall budget cut by $644,000 to $7.2 million.

"Workforce development is a key initiative and the ultimate goal is to achieve long-term economic stability. The centre is cost-effective and will benefit the public and soon the hours that this centre is open will be extended," said Mr. Roban.

Traditionally, the training and employment service mandate focused on those with low skills, but Mr. Roban said over the past few years there had been an increase in people with high levels of education seeking help in order to get full-time employment.

On training, Mr. Roban said the department intends to strengthen partnerships with the business community to develop internship programmes and on the job training programmes to help people with potential employment.

The other measures he announced include careers fairs once every two months, the development of an unemployment registry and assistance with IT skills and resume-writing.

Mr. Roban said timely information will be sought from the Immigration department regarding any reduction in the workforce so there can be a targeted response. In addition, more training will be provided for Bermudians in areas of work presently employing large numbers of guest workers. These include horticulture, hospitality, secretarial services, construction and financial management.

"The future for employment and employability is fraught with hazards but this department, I can assure you, stands ready to assist Bermudians who are willing to do their part in maintaining good employment practices," concluded Mr. Roban.

During their contributions to the ensuing debate, members of the Opposition raised concerns over the standard and availability of vocational training available. Charles Swan asked for figures on how many of those who have been assisted by the National Training Board have actually ended up gainfully employed in Bermuda, stressing that the need for technical-vocational training is "paramount."

Shawn Crockwell criticised the budget cut for the department at a time when more resources are needed to combat the trend of filling jobs with guest workers. He criticised the statistics for the National Training Board (NTB) which show the current rate for job placements is 45 percent.

When Zane DeSilva rose on "point of order' to take issue with Mr. Crockwell's criticism of the NTB's success rate, he said of the Opposition: "If the other side had not closed the technical college we would not be in the position we're in now.'

Mr. Crockwell retorted: "I certainly was not here 30 years ago in this honourable house. I'm sure they (the Government) will continue to attack. I'm not here to defend the closure of Bermuda tech. It closed 30 years ago. The PLP Government has been there for over ten years... and if this is the success of their ten year tenure as Government in training it is deplorable. If they wanted a technical institute they should have built it by now."