2.6 ICT & EMPLOYMENT Information and communication technology skills have become increasingly fundamental for workers beyond the ICT sector itself. It is now desirable that lower wage, lower skill workers have basic ICT skills to enhance their employability. For example, auto repair, retail and health care are industries where incorporation of ICT into their workflows has raised the skills bar for workers. However, despite the importance of having a basic knowledge of ICT, it is only part of the answer to job preparation. It is clear that soft skills, such as interpersonal communication, 2.6.1 Freedom of information The Freedom of Information Act was passed in December 2003. This Act extends the right of members of the public to access public information about the operations of public Action Item: Establish Strategic Alliances between the COE and an International Company with sufficient technical depth, training capacity and global reach to make the COE a premier training institution and creator of software applications teamwork, and work attitudes or habits, are also essential for employability. In essence, lower wage, lower skill workers face multiple barriers, many of which are more complex than simple unfamiliarity with email or word processing. Therefore ICT literacy cannot be isolated from the larger social and personal context that exist globally and in SVG in particular. Soft skills as well as solutions to challenges such as childcare, transportation, time, and appropriate attire are critically important. Social ties and personal networks are also recognized as crucial to finding a job and succeeding at work. Notwithstanding the importance of other factors, SVG has begun the process of ensuring that the lower wage, lower skill workers have equitable access to ICT training and exposure. authorities. Information about the rules and practices of public authorities which will affect members of the public must be readily available to persons affected by those rules and practices. Under this Act, the members of the public have the right to access information in documentary form which is in the possession of public authorities limited only by expectations and exemptions necessary for the protection of essential public interests and the private and business affairs of persons in respect of whom information is collected and held by public authorities. Also, this Act creates a right to bring about the amendment of records containing personal information that is incomplete, incorrect or misleading. corporations, and public institutions. There are instances where some of the larger ICT companies collect personal information to support targeted marketing to their advertisers. There is therefore a balance that needs to be struck by public sector policy makers in the creation of privacy legislation. This must be balance with the general requirements of the FOIA, and is an issue that is even more acute for small countries like SVG. The Privacy Act for the Public Sector was passed in 2005. A Privacy Bill for the Private Sector is yet to be enacted and is required to complete the suite of enabling legislation. 2.6.2 Privacy A side effect of being connected is the need to protect the privacy of the individual. This issue is closely linked to cyber security since in recent times databases containing personal information on thousands of persons have been compromised. This is an issue that affects the individual, large St. Vincent & the Grenadines National ICT Strategy and Action Plan P a g e | 44 Action Item: Introduced a program which provides subsidised laptops to each student in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Action Item: A suite of ICT related legislation will be enacted: Electronic Transaction Act; Data Protection Act; Electronic Crimes Bill; and Electronic Evidence Bill A program of Child Online Protection will be promoted.