The Bahamas finalizes National Apprenticeship Policy as key outcome of DWCP

To prepare its workforce to succeed in key economic sectors, the Government of The Bahamas has completed a National Apprenticeship Policy (NAP) that is aligned with the country’s strategic goals.

The new policy is a significant achievement under The Bahamas Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2021 – 2026, which includes sustainable and inclusive apprenticeships as a key outcome. It was coordinated by DWCP implementing partner the National Tripartite Council (NTC) with technical support from ILO Caribbean Office and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO). The collaborative process involved an innovative approach that combined training and workshops that were based on the ILO's quality apprenticeship system model.

The completion of the NAP comes less than a year after the International Labour Conference (ILC) adoption of ILO Recommendation 208 on Quality Recommendations in June 2023, which calls for the development of quality apprenticeships that provide opportunities for all people of all ages to skill, reskill and upskill continuously in rapidly changing labour markets. R208 recognizes that the promotion and development of quality apprenticeships can lead to decent work, contribute to effective and efficient responses to world of work challenges and provide lifelong learning opportunities to enhance productivity, resilience, transitions and employability and meet current and future needs of apprentices, employers and the labour market.

To structure and enforce the delivery of the policy, the Government tabled the Apprenticeship Bill 2024 in the House of Assembly on 14th February 2024. Under the Act, a National Apprenticeship Unit will oversee the Programme by registering employers who want to participate and keep track of training provided to apprentices. The legislation is expected to lead to expanded job opportunities and building essential skills for Bahamians.

“The National Apprenticeship Programme will forever change the way we prepare Bahamians to take advantage of opportunities in the labour market. This Programme will provide certified paid training and development opportunities in high demand fields,” said the Honourable Pia Glover-Rolle, Minister of Labour and Public Service for The Bahamas during a press conference on 15th February 2024.

“This Programme is sustainable. It is enshrined in law with the introduction of the new Apprenticeship Act. It is designed to touch the lives of not just our youth but persons who need to be upskilled and reskilled. Those persons will also have the opportunity to participate in the National Apprenticeship Programme,” explained Sharon Martin, Chairperson of the National Tripartite Council, during the press conference.

The NAP is also aligned with The Bahamas National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2040, which underscores the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and particularly apprenticeships, as pathways to employment that meets labour market demands.

“The ILO commends The Bahamas for successfully completing its National Apprenticeship Policy as a mechanism for reducing inequalities and building a more resilient labour market that can adapt to rapid transformations in the world of work,” said Ilca Webster, ILO Caribbean Specialist on Skills and Lifelong Learning.

Establishing the guidelines for the implementation of the National Apprenticeship Programme to address the workforce needs, the NAP includes eight focus areas: governance; stakeholder roles and responsibilities; regulatory framework; equitable financing; labour market aligned programme development; programme implementation; social inclusion; and monitoring and evaluation.

With the finalization of the NAP and new legislation, the road map that leads to the successful and sustainable implementation of the Programme will soon follow in the coming months.