Budget 2026 provides for the implementation of a comprehensive truck driver training initiative to build a safer, more skilled and professional workforce.

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, made the announcement on Wednesday, adding that the initiative will be executed through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). The initiative is designed to professionalize the transport sector while ensuring that the surge in infrastructure and industrial projects is supported by a qualified workforce.

The Minister emphasised that the move demonstrates a government that listens and adapts to the immediate needs of the economy and the traveling public. According to the Minister, this training will work in tandem with a broader review of licensing processes to improve overall road safety and efficiency.

“Budget 2026 will see the implementation and the rollout of a comprehensive program to train our truck drivers through the Board of Industrial Training,” the minister stated. “This will complement the work of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Service in reviewing their licensing process for all drivers.”

The announcement comes at a time when the demand for heavy-duty operators has reached record highs due to large-scale projects in the oil, gas, and construction sectors.

Reflecting on the government’s track record of job creation, the Minister noted that over 104,000 sustainable jobs were created between 2020 and 2025.

“These outcomes are not accidental,” the Labour minister said. “They are the direct result of this government’s commitment to active labor market policies, skills training, and opportunities that respond to the needs of employers and employees.”

He also highlighted the decentralisation of training, noting that the Board of Industrial Training has already reached over 16,300 persons across all ten regions. He pointed to the diversity of recent graduates as evidence that the government is catering to all demographics, including women in male-dominated fields and persons with disabilities.

“This expansion happened because of sustained public investment, private sector confidence, and a labor policy framework that puts skills relevance and workforce adaptability first,” the minister explained.

In addition to the truck driver training initiative, Minister Griffith announced a new prisoner capacity development program aimed at rehabilitating inmates through upskilling, allowing them to earn an income and support their families while serving their sentences.

“This is how you put people first,” he asserted.