The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The government's top labour official yesterday said he is open to working with the Department of Immigration to prevent exploitation of domestic workers - the labour category in greatest demand.

John Pinder, director of labour, said his interest had been sparked by the fact 65-70 percent of labour certificate approvals are granted for domestic workers. He acknowledged the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) concerns over the vulnerability of domestic workers, which comprise a significant part of the global workforce.

Such persons are often employed for private households, often without clear terms of employment, and have a range tasks that include house keeping, cooking, washing, ironing clothes and taking care of children.

"At least 65 to 70 percent of labour certificate approvals have to do with domestic work, gardeners, cooks, handymen and live-in maids. I think that given the international concerns over forced labour and human trafficking, we certainly need to ensure that these employers are not benefiting from these people in other ways. I don't have any facts to prove otherwise, but I would say that it is something that has certainly piqued my interest," said Mr Pinder.

"I know I had a situation with some construction workers where the employer was holding a portion of their salary until they left the country. There are now a number of non-Bahamians working in Bahamian restaurants. That may be because the employers are comfortable paying foreigners the minimum wage and the Bahamians simply want more; I'm not sure.

"The thing is we don't have the authority to investigate these things; that's the Immigration Department's work. We don't issue work permits; we approve labour certificates. What would be good I think, is if other departments could work closely together to really look into these sort of things."