The Ministry of Education Training and Employment has taken an important step forward to realise its vision for a new Department of Labour and Pensions, with the recent appointment of Mr. Mario Ebanks to the post of Director of the new agency.

Mr. Ebanks who has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Miami and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tennessee, (as a Bank of America and Deloitte scholar respectively), comes with years of managerial, human resources and consultancy experience from both the public and private sector. He has held esteemed positions such as youngest Chamber of Commerce Manager in the region, youngest Country Manager within Esso Caribbean and Central America and in more recent times has been Senior Consultant and Managing Director of his own company: Premier HR Management Solutions.

Minister for Employment, Hon. Rolston Anglin, JP, is delighted to have Mr. Ebanks join the team and had this to say, “Mr. Ebanks will be bringing with him a unique skill set and wealth of experience which, I am fully confident, will enable him to transition this organization into the effective, successful entity that this vital area of service delivery requires.”

The Ministry has been working diligently on remedies to what Minister Anglin calls the long-standing “failures and inefficiencies” of the current structure and services for labour-related functions.  Through various studies and assessments of the current situation, it was determined that a restructuring of the Department of Employment Relations and the National Pensions Office was the best way to achieve a more effective and efficient one-stop shop for all labour- related services.

This will allow for a system of proactive workplace inspections, which will promote compliance with both Labour and Pension legislation, while at the same time causing good employers minimum inconvenience.  Therefore the new Department of Labour and Pensions will maximise resources and achieve much needed efficiencies, including but not limited to, fostering improved stakeholder relationships, leveraging technology, and delivering timely and consistent solutions.

Chief Officer for Employment Mrs. Mary Rodrigues said, “I am extremely pleased to welcome Mr. Ebanks to the overall Ministry team.  The timing of his appointment means that, over the next few weeks, he will be able to play an important role in the transition arrangements, helping to prepare his new team to deliver the new department’s mission and vision, and for their move to new premises.” She advised that the new Department has been reorganised within existing budgetary allocations for the ministry. A recruitment process will commence shortly for a Deputy Post, to oversee the labour functions of the department. A major revision of the National Pensions Law is also nearing completion.

In commenting on his appointment, Mr Ebanks stated, “I am delighted to be the new Director of Labour & Pensions, and look forward to the challenges it will bring along with the rewards.  I have always been very passionate about these subjects, including during my previous service with the C.I. Government when I was closely involved with assisting Labour Law reform, and also played a pivotal role in the development and eventual passage of the national Pensions Law and Regulations.  Labour and pensions are such critical services to our community and I look forward to working with my new team and the Ministry to improving these services.  I also look forward to working closely with various professional and trade associations throughout our economy, and with fellow HR professionals, in a partnership to effect transformative strategies which enhances workplace productivity, safety, and tranquillity.”