CLMIS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How many Project Activities are there?

  • There are 7 project activities to be conducted at the national level. These are:
  1. the Computation of the KILM Productivity Indicators (PI)
  2. the update of the National Classification Of Occupations (NCO)
  3. the evaluation of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) as a potential source of labour market information
  4. Establishing or enhancing the Labour Force Survey (LFS)
  5. Establishing or enhancing the Occupational Wage Survey (OWS)
  6. Labour Market Information (LMI) Plan
  7. the Labour Market Information Library (LMIL)

  • On a regional level, three of the project activities have regional components. The updated NCOs are to be developed into a Regional Classification of Occupations. The Productivity Indicator activity is to be further developed on a regional level that would lead into the establishment of productivity indicators, and a regional LMIL is being developed, which will assist in the development of national LMILs.

Q: Can a country be enrolled in all Activities?

Yes, with the exception of the following activities:

  • PI Activity: A follow up briefing meeting for National Specialists on the guidelines for computing the KLIM productivity Indicators, was held in Saint Kitts-Nevis. Unfortunately countries that were not present at this forum would not be able to participate in this the first round for this activity, as they would not have benefited from the preparatory briefing on the specific guidelines for conducting the activity. Countries falling into this category though are advised that they would be able to participate in a likely second phase for this activity.

  • NCO Activity: The National Classification of Occupation activity for this first round is essentially an updating exercise of existing National Classifications of Occupation. This means that only countries with previously established NCOs would be able to participate in this activity, as the objective for this round is to establish the capability and the level of inter-agency collaboration needed to update and maintain a national classification of occupations.

Q: If a country was not present for the Productivity Indicator briefing in St. Kitts-Nevis, can they obtain any information on what was conducted at the briefing?

  • The information will be provided on request for any country wishing to obtain it.

Q: Who is responsible for the overall coordination of project activities in each respective country?

  • The National Focal Point as appointed by the Ministry of Labour, after consultation with the national stakeholder groups (National, Technical/Vocational and Training, Labour Unions, Employer Organizations, the Statistical Offices, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Planning) from each country, is responsible for the overall coordination of the project activities within their country.

Q: Who is responsible for the management and administration of the CLMIS Project?

  • The Project Director Mr. Reynold Simons, who is also the ILO’s Senior Specialist for Employment and Labour Market Policies, will be responsible for all technical matters, and the Programme Coordinator, Ms Aurora Noguera-Devers is responsible for coordinating the Project and handling all logistical and administrative matters.
  • The remaining members of the CLMIS Project staff are Mr. Darren Leon, Project Officer and Ms. Ellen-Marie Lewis, Administrative Assistant.

Q: What happens following the receipt of the formal, written notification from countries of their appointed National Focal Point and the list of project activities they would like to participate in?

  • The CLMIS Management would then contact the assigned Lead Agencies for each project activity, requesting (If not already provided) the name/s and curriculum vitae (CV) of the nominated person/s for the National Specialist.

Q: When do we learn in detail about the terms of reference for each of the project activities that we have opted to participate in?

  • All Focal Points have been sent a draft of the TORs for the National Specialist for each existing Project activity.

  • Following the establishing of formal communication between the CLMIS Project and the respective Lead Agency for each Project Activity, the CLMIS Project management will send a draft agreement outlining in detail the scope of the activity and the respective Terms of Reference (TORs) for the National Specialist for the project activity.

Q: Who will the National Specialist report to?

  • The National Specialist will be working under the direct auspices of the national Lead Agency for the project Activity. As such the National Specialist, if chosen from the Lead Agency would be expected to observe the natural reporting lines to his/her superior but additionally report to the Programme Coordinator Ms. Aurora Noguera-Devers according to the Agreement and TOR signed for the activity. However if the ILO-CLMIS Project contracts a consultant directly to do the work of a National Specialist, they will be expected to report directly to the CLMIS Programme Coordinator Ms. Aurora Noguera-Devers. The conditions for which would be stated in the TOR for the consultant.

Q: How will the Consultants be remunerated?

  • According to the clause for "payment and payment conditions" included in each agreement for a National Specialist, Private Consultants who are contracted as "National Specialist" for a project activity will be paid directly by the ILO on behalf of the CLMIS Project. If a Lead Agency for an activity makes one of its staff members available to fulfill the role of the National Specialist, the Lead Agency will continue to pay the staff member as an In-Kind support for the project activity. In this case funding that is available under the Project for the National Specialist will then be made available to the Lead Agency for the purpose of funding "research activities" for the specific project activity. Please note that regular staff of the Lead agency cannot be hired or paid otherwise using the research funds.

Q: What are the criteria used by the CLMIS Project hiring Specialists outside of an assigned Lead Agency for a Project Activity?

  • The CLMIS Project will not, on its own hire a consultant external to the assigned Lead Agency. This means that the Lead Agency would be asked to submit CVs for proposed National Specialists and itself is fully responsible for any decision regarding choices of candidates for their National Specialists. The CLMIS Project Management only verifies if the candidates identified and submitted by the respective Lead Agency are qualified enough to fulfill the TORs. Determination of the most qualified candidate is based on the TOR that forms part of the agreement that is signed by the Lead Agency to jointly implement the respective Project Activity.

Q: Could the budget for the Project Activities be explained? Is this the total emolument for the Project or is this a monthly figure?

  • The proposed budget for the Project Activities is the total for the entire project activity and inclusive of three main components.

  • A column that itemizes the required lines of expenditure for the project activity.
  • A column that indicates the funding to be made by the CLMIS Project for each expenditure line.
  • A column that indicates the funding to be made by the participating country in the form of National Inputs for each expenditure line.

Q: What is supposed to happen following the receipt of the Draft Agreement, Budget and related TORs by the respective Lead Agencies for each Project Activity?

  • The draft agreement is sent to the respective head of the Lead Agencies for their information and initial review. Following consultation with their respective stakeholders, including the nominated person for the National Specialist, the head of that Lead Agency is expected to communicate to the CLMIS Project their acceptance and or specific concerns they would like to be addressed within the Agreement and related TORs before accepting.

  • Following confirmation of acceptance of the Agreement and related TORs, the CLMIS Project would prepare the final mutually accepted Agreement and send this back to the head of the respective Lead Agencies for signing. A copy of the signed agreement should then be returned to the CLMIS Project indicating that the project activity will officially be commenced.

Q: Is there an Internet Site for the CLMIS Project?

  • There currently exists a limited amount of information about the CLMIS Project available through a link on the ILO’s Caribbean office’s official Web Site. However an official Web Site for the Project is currently being developed and its launch date and supporting information would be communicated to you as soon as this becomes certain.

 

 
Caribbean Labour Market Information System (CLMIS) Project, c/o ILO Subregional Office for the Caribbean, P. O. Box 1201, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.  

Phone: (868) 622-4153
Fax: (868) 622-7575
Email: CLMIS@ilocarib.org.tt