The Hayleys Plantations Sector set a new benchmark for human resource development with the successful completion of the pilot phase of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), Sri Lanka’s first-ever National Skills Passport (NSP) programme offered to plantation industry Field Officers.
Enhancing their competencies around sustainable plantations business operations, 70 Field Officers from Kelani Valley Plantations PLC (KVPL), Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (TTEL) and Horana Plantations PLC (HPL) successfully completed the programme.
At the convocation ceremony, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai stated, “Our mission at Hayleys Plantations is to enable a new approach to Plantations Management, merging experience-based knowledge with advanced technical knowledge. This commitment has ensured we are ranked among the top three RPCs in the country.
“With the introduction of the NVQ qualifications and Skills Passport, we are helping our team elevate their capabilities and expertise, in order to build a vibrant, digitally empowered workforce. I congratulate each member of the team on completing this qualification, and look forward to seeing them develop as leading plantations Field Officers in the country, continuing their professional development and making a difference on-ground.”
The NVQ Skills Passport is a four-partite initiative between the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Colombo Office, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC).
The technical support provided from National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), and was launched under the guidance of the Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations Ministry.
Field staff members at Hayleys Plantations with over a year’s experience and commendable performance records were selected and evaluated by NAITA on theoretical and practical aspects. On completing the programme, the first batch of Field Officers was awarded NVQ certificates and a Digital Skills Passport smart card with a QR code, facilitating convenient online access to their skills portfolio.
“Given the success of the first phase, we are confident that the NVQ Skills Passport will help empower our team to innovate new solutions to resolve long-standing challenges in our industry. Moving forward, we are committed to continuously upholding and enhancing our practices, which have already won national and International acclaim,” Hayleys Kelani Valley Plantations Head/ General Manager HR & Corporate Sustainability, Anuruddha Gamage stated.
The dedicated NSP online portal is connected to employees, employers, qualification bodies and labour market intermediaries. It can be used in the formal sector to help employees create a comprehensive portfolio of skills and qualifications and their references and experience, ensuring compatibility with various skill assessment frameworks. The portal also provides access to an e-document with virtual records of a worker’s knowledge, skills, and aptitudes. This provides the NSP holders with a gateway to find suitable jobs and access to reskilling and upskilling opportunities, locally and internationally.
An additional benefit of the NSP is that it is directly linked to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) platform, which helps recognise informally acquired knowledge, skills and competencies through formal assessments and certifications. NSP can be a career guide for workers if their RPL results and performance are documented. Additionally, it is a starting point to provide evidence of their skills, opening many doors for them in the future.
A centrepiece of the Sri Lankan economy, the Hayleys Group maintains a global presence across five regions with business interests spanning 16 diverse sectors. Accounting for USD 600 million of the country’s foreign earnings and 4.2% of the nation’s total export income, Hayleys is a champion of sustainable innovation and represents one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent success stories. Hayleys is Sri Lanka’s number one corporate for 2021, as ranked by that nation’s leading business publications.
