The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The head of the Government’s newly-appointed Immigration Commission yesterday said it has always been policy for employers to identify a Bahamian understudy when applying for work permits.

Alexandra Hall told the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly media briefing that there will be no changes to the requirement for employers to obtain a labour certificate, confirming there are no suitably qualified Bahamians available and willing to do the work, before they can apply for a work permit.

She said: “There are certain policies in place, and one of the discussions we’ve had in terms of the committee is that it may be important for us to encourage persons with the Department of Labour and Department of Immigration to advise the public on what’s in place, because a lot of times we don’t know what the requirements are for work permits that already exist.”

Pia Glover-Rolle, minister for the public service and labour, said in September that, in order to apply for a work permit, employers will have to identify a Bahamian understudy first to eventually take over from the expatriate hire.

The Immigration Commission will primarily be tasked with making recommendations on legislative reforms and gathering stakeholder recommendations on what the Immigration regime should look like in a modern Bahamas.

Ms Hall added: “We are only a committee, and we are not the Government, so we can only make recommendations. So even if any recommendations are made, it will be up to the Government to determine whether or not they can act on it.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC served notice of his government’s intentions in the Speech from the Throne debate, where he promised his administration will take the “biggest step taken to protect Bahamian workers since the introduction of Bahamianisation policies” through the launch of the Department of Labour’s Notice of Vacancy unit.

It will have responsibility for ensuring Bahamians are appointed to understudy expatriate workers so that they can be trained, and are ready to replace them, when work permits expire.

“It’s not just about the number of opportunities we create for Bahamians either, but about the quality of those opportunities. No qualified Bahamian is interested in remaining at the entry level for their entire career. No Bahamian professional who has invested time and money into self-development and education wants to hit an impenetrable glass ceiling that sees them stuck in the middle of the corporate structure,” he said.

“Our people deserve pathways to unimpeded career growth based on their qualifications, experience and performance. If you have conversations with employees at various companies, like I have, you will hear the stories of head bartender, club manager and housekeeping manager posts that have been monopolised by foreign hires.

“We’re not talking about rare or unique skill sets here. There are Bahamians who are currently qualified for these posts and preparations should be made for them to step into these roles,” he added. “But even in the case of specialised and high skills roles, with few exceptions, there should be Bahamians identified and trained to fill those roles, too,” Mr Davis continued.

“This is not up to the discretion of the employer; this is a matter of policy – it is not optional. Unfortunately, for many years, this has not been the case. Not only has enforcement not been prioritised, there were no personnel assigned to enforce our laws.

“This is why we are now launching a new Notice of Vacancy Unit at the Department of Labour, which will ensure that the law is enforced. Our people rely on their government to protect them, and this Unit will step in to ensure that in instances when an employer hires a non-Bahamian, a Bahamian understudy is identified and is actively being trained.

“Eventually, in accordance with that training plan, the Bahamian will be elevated to that role, eliminating the need to fill the role with a non-Bahamian.”