Rated Programme To Undergo Review
The BVI government will review and update the RATED programme after reporting its first-year performance to the House of Assembly. The review aims to improve accountability, financial processes and expand the scheme into sectors such as agriculture, technology and hospitality to create broader employment pathways.
The government has announced a formal review and overhaul of the RATED programme, a temporary jobs, apprenticeship and skills-training initiative for unemployed and underemployed residents of the British Virgin Islands. Premier and Minister of Finance updates were delivered during the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The Premier noted that in 2025 the government allocated three million dollars to RATED to cover participant payments, training, and employer contributions to Social Security, the National Health Insurance (NHI) and payroll tax. According to the Minister of Finance, RATED received 419 applications last year and assisted 318 individuals.
Of those assisted, 297 were placed in temporary employment—mainly roadside cleaning—and 11 participated as apprentices. Separately, 21 apprentices received training through the programme, as reported to the House. Officials highlighted tangible benefits: short-term income support for participants, practical work experience, and contributions to social protection schemes.
The programme has also helped keep public spaces maintained and provided basic on-the-job training for residents who might otherwise struggle to find employment. While celebrating those gains, government leaders said RATED will be strengthened to address operational gaps. "While these achievements are commendable, there are areas for improvement, which are being addressed through updating the programme’s mandate, amendments to the policy, instituting accountability, safety and performance evaluation mechanisms, improvement in the financial processes, increased public outreach, closer collaboration with partners/stakeholders, etc.," the Premier said.
Looking ahead, the government plans to expand RATED into additional sectors to build longer-term career pathways. Proposed areas of expansion include agriculture, technology, marine services, hospitality, construction, utilities and landscaping. "We are also engaging professionals to better assess the capabilities, interests and developmental needs of applicants to offer them more tailored and individualised assistance to fulfilling their career and personal aspirations," the Premier added.
The review aims to make RATED more targeted and sustainable for BVI residents by improving oversight, clarifying policy, boosting outreach, and working more closely with private and public partners. Residents interested in future RATED opportunities should watch official government communications for updates on revised eligibility, application windows and training offerings.
Primary source: VINO