HR Professionals Urged to Establish Linkages to Boost Productivity and Competitiveness

President of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), Colin Barnett, has called on human resources (HR) professionals to establish linkages across businesses to boost the country’s productivity and competitiveness.
Mr. Barnett was speaking at HRMAJ’s 27th annual conference held recently at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios under the theme ‘Human Resource Management: Building Bridges, Crossing Borders’.
He noted that HRMAJ’s mission is to operate a vibrant and proactive organization and “it is against this background that I urge my colleagues to think outside the box to widen our horizons.”
According to Mr. Barnett, the theme of the conference recognizes the fact that as a profession, “we must work closer with our counterparts in the region. This is why HRMAJ continues to champion the move towards establishing the Human Resource Management Association of the Caribbean (HRMAC)”.
He noted that the establishment of the HRMAC will enable the profession to play an active role in the establishment of CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“Considering the timetable of December 2008 for full implementation of the movement of skilled labour within the region and several challenges still to be addressed, the work of the (HRMAC) will be critical in bringing our human resources expertise to the table to influence policy formulation and implementation strategies,” he stated.
Turning to the need for HR professionals to hone their business skills, Mr. Barnett said: “Jamaica is faced with complex business challenges and I can assure you that never in the history of management has business literacy been more essential for the survival of the human resource profession”.
“To be a true strategic business partner in today’s competitive marketplace HR must utilize a myriad of diverse and strategic business skills,” he pointed out.
Mr. Barnett urged the participants to sharpen their skills in this area and seize opportunities to develop a wider grasp of the profession, and so become empowered to perform at a much higher level.