The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Tribune Business Reporter

Abaco's Chamber of Commerce has issued a fact sheet to the island's employers to address the "huge issue" of work permit and labour law violations.

Daphne DeGregory-Miaoulis, the Chamber's president, told Tribune Business: “It’s a huge issue… We have just put out a flyer and it's on our website. And we're circulating it to all of the real estate agencies, the second home owner chat groups, outlining what the law allows for and what is considered illegal.”

She added that many second homeowners allow persons to work outside the scope of their work permits, while in other cases many expatriate workers are not working on the island where their permits were issued. “A lot of the second homeowners are under the misconception that if somebody has a work permit issued by somebody else, that they are still legal to be employed," Mrs DeGregory-Miaoulis said.

“If the Immigration Department were to enforce the requirement of housing provided by the work permit holder, then that would cut down a lot because you do have people getting a work permit for somebody out of Nassau who basically are selling them the work permit, and they go to work in other islands. I think that's an enforcement and policing issue. When work permits are issued, they need to be enforced... what the terms of the work permit are.”

Her comments came after Keith Bell, minister of labour and Immigration, last week affirmed the multiple challenges created by foreign workers working outside the scope of their work permits and/or working for a different employer who did not sponsor the application and pay the fee.

"We need to hear from you as to how we ought to address and deal with these challenges. We’re at a crossroad in this country, and we have to determine how we now move forward with it," Mr Bell told the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) at its breakfast meeting.

The Abaco Chamber of Commerce, in its communication, said: “We encourage our fellow Bahamians, permanent residents and second homeowners to understand that persons who employ migrants illegally directly contribute to: Illegal shanty town development/unlawful leasing of land…human trafficking/exploitation of vulnerable persons…environmental/public health hazards of unsanitary settlements and and unsafe dwellings.”

Mr Bell last week said that revoking work permits for labour law violations could lead to significant labour shortages in certain areas such as construction. “Given the substantial number of persons who are working for other people, it's impossible for the director now to come in and say I'm going to cancel all of these work permits because we could have a significant collapse in certain industries," he added.

Mrs DeGregory- Miaoulis disagreed with this position, asserting that the majority of offenders - such as persons brought in as farm labourers but who are really skilled construction workers - could be replaced by Bahamians. She said: “No, I don't agree with that. But I do think that persons who are hiring the illegals, half the time they're actually being trained and they're learning their skills on the job. Bahamians would do the same.

“They want Bahamians to come in with skills. They should allow the same opportunities to young Bahamians. And learn a trade on the job the same way the illegals are learning a trade on the job. They didn't come here with this knowledge or with this trade experience. They're developing it actually on the job.”

Mrs DeGregory-Miaoulis suggested that large foreign direct investment projects partner with local educational institutes, such as the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), to elevate trade skills throughout The Bahamas.

She said: “When these big developments or resorts are coming in, if they know in advance that they're going to have a labour shortage, one of the things our government should be negotiating for, especially in remote areas…on Family Islands, instead of giving all concessions to the developments, require them to do something for the community.

“If they expand local schools on the relevant islands, and sponsor the trainers to teach at the various schools... maybe finance the employment or use some of their trade men that they're getting permits for to give courses at the trade school. I mean, we can only grow as much as we provide opportunities for local young people to get the training.

"Whatever is most feasible but, in some way, get the financial support and commitment with these developments that are going to need the employment. Get them to help provide scholarships for students even in particular trades where they see that they're going to need that kind of labour force in the future.”

The Abaco Chamber president backed plans for a National Apprenticeship Programme and maintained that training and education will help quell crime and other social ills.

She said: “We've got to get our young people trained and educated and off the streets, and that will help to cut down on crime. Because our kids are not born criminals. They're idle. They don't have things that will provide them a future, you know, work. So we need to get them trained, and we need to give them a sense of responsibility and a sense of value that keeps them off of the street and out of the gangs.”