Public-private sector collaboration on a pilot plan for apprenticeship centers in Puerto Rico – News is My Business

At the initiative of the Department of Labor, the Mall of San Juan and certain stores provide job applicants with disabilities with real-life work experiences.

Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor Gabriel Maldonado-González and Mall of San Juan General Manager Marnie Marquina, along with representatives from various establishments, signed a cooperation agreement with the mall to formalize the Infinite Talent Internship Center. The aim of this initiative is to provide job candidates with disabilities with real-world work experiences that help them identify their interests and perform better.

The institutions covered by the cooperation agreement include Action Service, Atypical Living, Il Nuovo Mercato, VG Optical and Molécula.

The agreement states that immersive experiences will be promoted in the work environment through “shadowing” or observation. Shadowing is a training strategy in which a person undergoing job training follows and observes an experienced employee as they perform tasks and deal with work situations.

This method allows participants to learn directly in a real work environment, gain practical knowledge and better understand the roles, responsibilities and skills required in a given position. During the process, participants can ask questions and receive detailed explanations about the work they are observing.

As part of the project, one person will be assigned to each exercise center. A meeting will be organized to provide the employer with information about the practitioner’s profile, skills and share strategies for maximizing and successfully completing the practice. The internships will last two weeks.

“I want to congratulate the Department of Labor and its team on their outstanding initiative to inspire and mentor functionally diverse people in Puerto Rico,” Marquina said. “At The Mall of San Juan, we are deeply committed to Puerto Rico and inclusion in all its forms. We are proud of our tenants and suppliers who decided to join this training campaign, which aims to increase the employment opportunities of people with functional diversity on the island. Mall of San Juan is proud to participate in this noble cause of inclusion and empowerment.”

The Infinite Talent initiative was created a year ago. Maldonado-González highlighted the significant achievements of this project.

“Infinite Talent was born from the need to have a whole-of-government project that guides and guides functionally diverse populations to obtain employment opportunities where they can demonstrate their maximum potential and achieve truly independent lives,” said Maldonado-González.

As of May last year, the initiative had registered 248 inclusion companies, 253 talents and 84 service providers. Over 400 coaching, CV writing and job interview sessions were offered as part of the mentoring.

Additionally, over 20 educational training sessions were held for employers and service providers, and over 35 professional photo sessions were conducted for talents. The Talento Infinito Talent Show and Talento Infinito Summit also took place, attracting over 1,000 participants.

This content was produced by News is my Business staff. Send questions, comments and suggestions to (email protected).