WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS DIABLOG
The CSME and You DiaBlog is part of a CARICOM study on the communications efforts of the CSME in the area of its labour provisions which are intended to allow, among other things, the free movement of skilled workers and service professionals across the Community.
WHOSE PAYING FOR THE STUDY?
The Caribbean Community Secretariat is the contracting authority.
WHO IS RIGHT ANGLE IMAGING?
We are a St Lucia-based regional public communications and social marketing firm with wide experience in communications for development and a variety of experts in labour relations, communications and marketing. We were contracted by CARICOM to carry out the study over a four-month period, beginning in early June 2010. We are not officials of the CARICOM Secretariat or of any CARICOM member state's government.
WHERE WILL THE STUDY BE DONE?
The study will involve stakeholders in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia
MY COUNTRY ISN'T ON THE LIST. WON'T THE STUDY BE IRRELEVANT TO ME?
Not at all. These countries were selected based on a variety of wide-ranging factors - ranging from population size to CSME involvement. The sample represents both large and small nations with widely differing experiences of the CSME. Nevertheless, we want to hear from you wherever you are in CARICOM.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY HOPE TO ACHIEVE?
The overall objective of the project of which this contract is a part, is to deepen knowledge and understanding of Regional Integration and in particular, the CSME. The overall purpose of this project is to promote buy-in among labour stakeholders and stimulate and encourage their active participation in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), by executing research and developing a public education strategy for disseminating messages that will resonate with the stakeholders.
HOW WILL THE PROJECT WORK?
The researchers will investigate the levels of awareness, knowledge, and use of the CSME regimes with stakeholder across the region. The study is a mix of face-to-face meetings in the five pilot countries, research - and the dialogue from this blog. At the end, the researchers will present a report that will be discussed during a regional stakeholder consultation and later guide the development of messages and strategies to engage labour stakeholders in an effort at creating CSME buy-in.
WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS?
You, as a worker, professional or employer in the Caribbean Community, especially if you have worked in the Community as a CARICOM Skilled National, or plan to. We also plan to listen to Ministries of Labour, labour and professional organisations (unions, trade associations), chambers of commerce, employers confederations and the media.
WILL THE STAKEHOLDERS MEET DURING THE PROJECT?
A Regional Consultation for at least thirty (30) participants from Member States is being planned to discuss and generate concrete recommendations and proposals for messages aimed at the labour sector and a sound strategy for implementation of said messages is developed. Full details will be announced here on the DiaBlog.
AFTER THE STUDY, HOW WILL THE CSME BE COMMUNICATED IN FUTURE?
That's largely up to you and your input; that's why we want to hear from you. Messages which will resonate with the labour market, based on the initial investigation and discussions with the stakeholders and a sound strategy for dissemination of those messages will be developed.
WHAT WILL BE IN THE REPORT?
There will be full details of our findings on the levels of awareness and knowledge of the CSME among labour stakeholders and the use of the CSME regimes, such as acquisition of Skills certificates and movement for wage employment is prepared and delivered to the CARICOM Secretariat's CSME Unit.
The web portal of the CSME Labour Market Communications Study Project
