DER appeals to the unemployed to get in touch
(CNS): With almost 400 jobs registered with them each month, the Department of Employment Relations is urging the unemployed to make contact with the office. The department is now linked directly with immigration, making sure the boards know when a suitable and qualified Caymanian is available. However, the DER says it is is having trouble tracking down the 800 or so people registered with the department. Speaking to CNS at this weekend’s Chamber Career’s Expo, Jennifer Smith, the acting DER director, said that in the latest audit the department had struggled to make contact with almost half of the people registered as their contact details were out of date.
Smith said if people wanted to find work they must ensure that when they changed their telephone numbers and other contact details they let the department know immediately.
“The main problem for us at the moment is the inability to contact people,” Smith told CNS, urging people to contact the office. “We really need everyone who has registered with us to let us know what their status is, especially if they are still looking for work. We can’t place people if we can’t contact them and when we give contact numbers to potential employers they expect them to be correct.”
She said anyone who has registered with the DER but has not heard from the department in the last two weeks should call the office and let the staff know if they are still looking and if so what their new contact details are. Smith explained that there were lots of vacancies in the job bank and anyone who is looking for work should register with them as soon as possible so the staff there can begin to help them find a job.
“We are now directly linked with the Immigrations Department so we are able to exchange data and the boards can make more informed decisions,” she said, explaining that if unemployed Caymanians were not registered with the DER they could miss out on potential career openings. “We really are encouraging people to come and see us. We have jobs; we can help,” Smith added.
With a fully manned stand at the Chamber’s Career and Training Expo, the team at the Department of Employment Relations said they were hoping to meet with people andencourage them to use the department’s services.
A number of changes have been taking place over the last few months, and aside from the development of the data base linked to the Immigration Department, the DER is also working with the Ministry for Labour on the new ‘National Employment Passport’, which will focus on helping unemployed Caymanians get back to work or get into work for the first time through training and development programmes that will help match the skills of those people out of work to the jobs that the local community needs people for.
At the opening of the Expo Minister Rolston Anglin explained that the first phase of the initiative would focus heavily on equipping the country’s young people with the skills they need to make them able to compete in the local job market. Given that the rate of youth unemployment is currently at 38%, he said the need to ensure youngsters aged between 18 and 24 were employable was more pressing than ever before. The minster with responsibility for labour and training said this was not some feel-good government programme to make people think the administration was doing something; it was all about employability of the country’s young people and providing business with a local workforce that met their commercial needs.
Category: Local News
DER sucked from day 1!
re:17:54
Is it any wonder that you are not employed. In your brief post there are so many errors that it is completely frightening. Yes, we all make typos, but let me quote Nance Grace when I say WHOAA. If this is the state of the Caymanian work force, we might as well throw in the towel now.
Are we as employers supposed to hire poorly educated individuals just because they are Caymanian? Does a birth cert give you a pass on basic literacy???? Pick up a book and read. Reading will expand your vocabulary and open you to new ideas. You can go down to the library and get books for free. Try it! What can it hurt? Then you can write a resume, and apply for a job for which you are qualified. FYI you start at the bottom and work your way up. Just because you are Caymanian doesn’t entitle you to be a CFO,or even a supervisor. Those days are long gone.
I went to the DER to hire new staff. They gave me a form which I filled out and returned. I told them I needed two new Caymanian employees ASAP. I was told that it would take a MINIMUM of 2 weeks for them to get me into their system. After which they would set up interviews with suitable candidates. which would take 3 to 4 weeks.
I was totally shocked to find out that we have a 1980’s system for job placement in a 21st century world. There is NO data base… REALLY, are you joking me. DER is using index cards to track people. I hope they are not balancing their accounts with an abacus.
That was 13 months ago, I never heard back from them. Not one person was sent to me. Maybe they weren’t the most glamourous jobs, but they had few requirements as to education or experience; were not hard labour; and paid an average of $8.00 and hour. Not to mention- we train. All we ask for is from applicants is basic math and English skills and ethusiasm. These were not work permit renewals, but genuine new jobs. I don’t have the time to waste an entire afternoon at the DER to find an employee in a down economy. I do not know what planet the DER is based on but it is not Earth. I was able to find workers on my own who did not require permits, and in less time then it takes them to enter my form I had new staff working. At the end of the day what we are left with is that the DER is a joke. And a sad joke and waste of our dollars at that.
Any one who says "let me quote Nance Grace" has no credibility to me.
After that I could not even read the rest of your comments.
The DER has always been linked to Immigration, and look for how many years.
This is just promotional propaganda, there is always a representative on the Immigration Board and has been there for several years. Saying you are linked NOW with Immigration, is not new, it been there from the 90’s. I sat on the Immigration Board and back in the 90’s we started getting information on Caymanians unemployed from the DER.
Why are you trying to appear as if you are doing something new? When infact you know all this was already in place.
What we want to hear out here is when are you all going to return the Director to his rightful place? Stop delaying, it is not a nice picture being painted about the Govt. with a qualified, educated Caymanian that you hired, and praised as being more than qualified for the position, and he is now on suspension.
Either fire him or put him back in his position
From all the Happy Island People.
Hello DER, you got my fax of March 10th, 2010. I asked you to acknowledge it, and to date I have heard nothing.
So i emailed my fax to you at your email in the phone directory, still nothing.
So I want you to know that I am submitting that work permit now, because you have failed to send me any Caymanians that qualify for the job I sent you weeks ago.
I tried, but since you don’t have your REAL CAYMANIAN DIRECTOR at the helm anylonger, no wonder the place has fallen back down the hole it was in when he first arrived.
What a mess.
the myth of caymans ‘unemployed’ exposed again!
the vast majority of these people do not want to work!
back home there are unemployed architects, engineers queing up to take jobs in supermarkets…..
why don’t you join your country men back home?
Forget the need to be so insulting.
Understand the issues facing the people here.
Call your family and be greatful you hace a job.
Keep working hard.
You are better off getting to know the caymanian people.
Older caymanians are also seeking work these days.
Unless we learn to get along, we cannot win.
Why doesn’t the DER act as an employment agency? Most other countries have a central gov run place/database where employers can place ads of open positions and job seekers can go to see what is currently available.
It appears that the publics perception of what the DER does and what it actually does are very different. I had always thought that the DER was a Cayman gov employment agency. After following the link to their website to find out all they do is teach interview skills and resume building as well as keeping statistics on the unemployed, I came to the realisation of why there numbers are so far from reality.
Their services are not necessary, they do not provide anything anyone actually needs or cannot find for free elsewhere. The only service they do (and I’m not sure this is them) is the list so people can get their hand outs.
It is time for them to updated their mandate and become relevant or disband.
It’s wrong to say the DER hasn’t found any employment for anyone. They found employment for each other. But to say it’s unique to Cayman would be wrong also. In Canada there are "agencies" that have fully-equipped offices with telephones, faxes and computers so that they can send inter-office memos to each other. The memos say things like: STAFF MEETING 1:00. Lunch Provided. And GROUP TEAM MEETING 2:30. AGENDA Discuss parking space signs. If you haven’t got your sign yet PLEASE ATTEND. IMPORTANT NOTICE!! If you haven’t received your BlackBerry. Please Contact Nancy. Front Desk. ANYONE NEEDING A SKI PASS FOR THE EMPLOYEE RETREAT… Call Stuart Line 16 HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!
Sometimes. Someone wanders off the street…looking for employment. Because it says EMPLOYMENT BUREAU. But no one can see them they’re ALL in a meeting.
While waiting, they are directed to a rack of pamphlets. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR HAIRDRESSERS. REPAIRING PIZZA OVENS. STARTING YOUR OWN DOG-WALKING BUSINESS. CAREERS IN NEUROSURGERY.
As a last resort, they fill out the necessary three-page INTAKE FORM. Because they can’t make an appointment without one. But no one can see them anyway. They’re in a meeting.
Which is filed along with four thousand other INTAKE FORMS.
Once a year, these are all bundled up and sent to the Government. Along with a request for more funding.
And
They receive more funding for the next year. And hopefully more staff.
If you’re looking for a job. Hit the bricks, knock on doors….it’s the most effective.
The incompetencies and attitudes in the DER is beyond words! I am certain that there are other duties assigned to them other than job placements, at least I hope so, because they are completely clueless in that regard. Just think about it though, if jobs are found for the relatively low number of unemployed persons, then what would they do?
A visit to the inner sanctums of that office, will show you, the same persons day in and day out, sitting on their fat, lazy almost immovable b**$s, sipping on something or chewing on pencils.
Ask the question, "what’s the last time you had a look at the Friday Compass’ jobs listing…."Huh what newspaper is that?"
It is so sad and please understand that these are Caymanians who don’t give two hoots about the hardships of their fellow Caymanians. It’s all about a paycheck, free medical and non-contributory pensions.
If they had to work for their pay it would be all over. This would be an excellent department for Government to start taking cost-cutting measures, e.g. eliminating some of these seat warmers.
Come on Mr. Minister, yuou know what you need to do. Just do it, then and stop tip-toeing around, afraid to rock the ‘elections-voters boat’.
Time to —- or get off the toilet!
DER is a waste of time . I think this service is not worthwhile….
You register and you don’t here back from you or they find you a job that can’t cook soup and then they call 2 years later to find out if you still have as job…I am going to go down to Social Services and get a cheque every month
1. How about installing 3-4 computer terminals at DER where the job seeker can search for job listings, print them out and consult directly with one of the officers there.
2. Social Services, DER and other related offices should work with a commonly shared data bank. That might prevent unemployed people from withdrawing cheques when already employed and it keeps their records up to date. Wrong mailing address – no money.
3. If the job seeker had been offered 3 job opportunities by DER and nothing suits him/her there will be no more financial support from Social Services for the unemployed.
4. Keep It Stupid Simple (KISS).
Let me give you an idea about the level of competence at DER. They often miss deadlines for ads and then expect HR professionals to allow applications to be submitted after a deadline has passsed.
They seldom call back candidates even when the job seeker has done everything in their power to contact them.
They are clueless about what jobs entail … the list could go on!
DER do your job. This is why members of the private sector are loosing patience with the Civil Service. How did you manage to obtain the original contact details and now you’re unable to locate the individuals? This just proves that all you really did half of the time was collecting the information and then you forgot about the person in need. Had you been interested in assisting, you would know precisely where these people are. Shame on you all within the DER. But; it’s always Joe public to blame for the incompetence of the Civil Servants. Even the issue of expat v Caymanian can be connected to the incompetence of the Civil Servants. The economy may suffer further, but, the Civil Service needs to be given a really hard shake.
If you actually go to the website of DER:
http://www.employmentservices.gov.ky/Job-Seeker.html
This is what you will find under job seeker:
The central aim of the Job Placement Unit of the Employment Services Centre is to help individuals help themselves find employment.
The unit itself does not function as a recruitment agency; rather it is an employment service that provides individuals with the necessary tools, training and aid needed to enter the world of employment. On average, between 12 to 15 persons monthly, successfully find employment because of the assistance they receive from the Job Placement Unit.
This makes no sense, either you are oa placement service or not.
They can’t even tell you what job’s are registered, or for employers who is register, I was told the last time I would have to wait up till 2 weeks to see if they had a suitable person. I strongly believe in the idea of what they want to do…but they really have to get there act together.
It is amazing when u ask a young caymanian where he/she would like to work the answer is always banking or water comp or cuc or public works. No one wants to do landscaping, masonry, construction. Why????? because hard work is involved. Wake up fellow citizens! The time has come for us to accept the challenge and stop the attitude of only wanting the easy way out. Then there is no reason why the jobs have to given out to work permit holders.
Funny how so may comments to news stories relate to ex-pats taking all the jobs and how crime is related to the youth of Cayman having no work. Now we have a story where DER is pleading with the unemployed to call them as they have a lot of jobs available. Similar to when the sanitation dept couldn’t find workers. Ex-pats, ex-pats, ex-pats. Cayman is the only country I know of where people expect good high paying jobs because they were born here. In most countries you need a resume or CV – not just a birth certificate.
I find it incredible that so may servers in establishments are on work permits because as I am told, Caymanians don’t want that work. Cayman Immigration approves work permits for people to pour beer. No complaints from Caymanians on that though. How do those work permits get through?
Ex-pats take all the jobs, our kids can’t work so they resort to crime. The DER can’t locate the unemployed. There are no workers to pick up trash. Every story contradicts the next. Cayman, every country in the world has immigrants and every one is entitled to pursue any job based on the merits of their education and experience. Does it make sense to you that an employer wants to spend thousands on work permits if they can get the same productivity from an employee who doesn’t need a work permit?
The good news is, with companies and workers exiting Cayman due to permit issues, costs and increasing crime – the ex-pat smoke screen is becoming transparent.
"I find it incredible that so may servers in establishments are on work permits because as I am told, Caymanians don’t want that work. Cayman Immigration approves work permits for people to pour beer. No complaints from Caymanians on that though. How do those work permits get through?"
I wonder who told you that? must be the Cuckoo bird from the ding dong clock. Only a few short years ago 99.99% of the entire hospitality industry was manned by Native Caymanians, in most positions. I clearly remembred when most if not all of the waiters and waitress in allthe fine dining establishments were Native Caymanians and believe me the service was impeccable. Customers never had to ask for service it was given freely and with a warm Caymanian smile. Water glasses were never allowed to go below 1/2 a glass, it would have been considered an insult for a customer to ask for water and one could lose their job for this, we knew the proper side to serve and clear from. Native Caymanians knew which wine to recommend with which dish and this was usually done by teenagers (some still in school) young, middle aged and mature Caymanian we all worked in the hospitality industry until the late 90’s, even if working at a resturant was our secondary job. I worked in the financial industry from 8:30 until 5:00 (as most Caymanians did) and from 6:00pm until 10:00 in the hospitality industry. In fact most Caymanians did that unti some unscrupulous people came here and started to cheat us out of our tips and gratuities and when they saw that they were not able to steal from and manipulate Caymanians they began to replace us with cheap labour and people who they could control. The service industry in Cayman is so poor that most times I have to shake my head in some of the so called 5 star dining establishments that is staffed by "Key Employees". This why I don’t even bother to go out for dinner because most of the servers (not natives) are clueless and have absolutely no idea of how to even pour a proper glass of water not to mention how to serve a customer. Their main focus is to get tips. Back in the 70s to 90s the avergage Caymanian waiter/waiteress that worked at any 5 star restaurant could have easily taken home $200 – $500 per night just from tip because they did not have to pool their tips, monies what we made on the wait staff station was for them alone. However, the 15% gratuties charge on the bill was pooled and shared amoungst all of us on pay day.
Yes, expats take most of the jobs if they didn’t why are there 26,000 work permits and 3,000 unemployed Caymanians? some employers spend thousands on work permits because they want debenture servitude by paying their non Caymanian employee less than a liveable wage. Some employers pay their employees as little as US$2.50 per hour and believe me no Native Caymanian can afford to work for that with a family to take care of and even if they don’t have a family that is not even grocery money US$112.50 for a week.
The good news is, these kind of companies and employers should not let the sun set on them they are not good corporate citizens and I for one and most Caymanians will not miss them or even shed a tear when they leave.
Caymanians will certainly weep and mourn if good corporate citizen and companies such as CUC, Lime (aka Cable & Wireless) and many other would leave as they have been here with us through very bad time and good time mosquitoes, sandflies and swamps they helped to shape the Cayman Islands that we have today and ironically like most Caymanians they are being squeezed to the back of the line but believe me it will not happen as long as there is still one Caymanian left with DNA to Terra Firma we will stand firm and let you know who we are and from whence we came long before you and most of the world knew where to find us on a map.
Well said! How refreshing it would be to have properly trained Caymanians serving in the restaurants and bars, provided of course they were paid suitably. Get the young people back into hospitality and show them they could have good careers and not to be so proud to start at the bottom – and learn and earn their way up! Hospitality and technical training is in desperate need for the young.
Furthermore, the colloquialisms and dialect often used as an excuse for illiteracy would not only be welcomed but actually encouraged.
Provided of course.. they were paid suitably.
Of course it’s necessary for people to be paid a decent wage and every worker deserves that. But I hope what this is also not saying is: it’s ok right now. As long as it’s foreign workers who aren’t being paid suitably. Let’s assume that’s not what you’re saying. Then, I agree with you, there could be rewarding jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries.
Providing that, workers in these industries are not entirely dependent on tips. To subsidize their low wages and to bring them up to a living wage. In essence, that’s what many employers expect. And hopefully, that’s what many customers do. But it can’t be guaranteed, can it?
But the other problem is: That it has been instilled in many young people here that all of the high paying jobs have been stolen by foreign workers. Many people are guilty of that type of misleading. Leading of course to resentment and the desire to start at the top. Even if… there are steps missed. For instance they don’t see that most of those people started at the bottom and worked their way up.
That has to be addressed, and without other excuses provided.
Because if it isn’t, they can’t see the often necessary steps required, and it doesn’t help them to succeed.
Just the same there should be a minimum wage and it’s backward not to have one in the Fourth largest financial jurisdiction.
The fact that none of these people can be contacted makes me think they are probably either working and the records haven’t been updated or live their lives below the radar, robbing and stealing off the rest of us.
If they were seriously interested in getting a job and were willing to do a job which matched their skills and qualifications then they would be employed anyway.
I emailed them with my new contact details when I got a new phone number. No response. I tried emailing them again a few times, same thing. I think the problem is on their side not mine.
REALLY?!! Several months ago I called and signed up with this department since I was in need of a handyman. I’m still waiting on this department to get back to me to say "yes" we have such an individual on file or "no" we dont have any such persons registered.
Good luck and Godspeed to those who register hoping to get job through this department because you will need it!
Only in the Cayman Islands. Why should the DER be calling people – you would think that if you were unemployed and wanted a job badly enough that you would be the one calling the DER to find out if there were any openings, not the other way around.
I have been registerd with DER for months as a highly qualified professinal and have not gotten a SINGLE lead.
They are a complete waste of time.
Not being funny, but there are hundreds of jobs advertised in the paper every week. If you were genuinely as qualified as you say you would have no problem getting a job.
All large employers have to employ Caymanians that apply for their jobs regardless if they are the best applicant. The immigratio board do not issue work permits if they think there are Caymanians that can do the job.
If you were any good and bothered to write quality applications in good English and then attended the interview on time and at least made an effort to impress the interviewer, you would have a job now.
By your post, I can only presume that you are not.
Stop blaming everybody else, pull your finger out and get applying for jobs in the paper.
To Anonymous Mon15:08 You know it really is annoying to read posts such as yours .You are obviously ignorant when it comes to what is happening to Caymanians seeking employment.Perhaps in your little circle you don’t see what really happens ,but the truth is many Caymanians are given the runaround when seeking employment.I speak from personal experience.I was unemployed for a long time in the past and responded to ad after ad .Some employers let you know that they were in receipt of your application but never called back to set up the interview they promised.When I was finally able to get through they said that they were still doing interviews and eventually I learnt that the post had been filled.Sometimes I reached the interview stage only to be told that I was over -qualified for the post ,and even when I stated that I just wanted to work I was told that as I was over qualified for the post this would somehow be disruptive.So please don’t kid yourself it is not as simple as you suggest.However your next to last sentence clearly shows just a little bit of the bias encountered by Caymanians.
I have read and re-read your post and must disagree with you since I have much first hand experience with what you are writing about.
"All large employers have to employ Caymanians that apply for their jobs regardless if they are the best applicant."
The above quote from your post is just one of the inaccuracies contained therein.
I would be very interested to discuss this with you further and place some facts, figures and documentation on the table, for you to review.
For this reason, I am not afraid to sign my name and will also disclose my telephone number, in the hope that you are mature enough to contact me so that I can enlighten you further.
Sincerely,
Lorna E. Bush (Caymanian Empowerment Agency) 345-939-7513
Have you ever tried parking to visit DER????? Obviously a very expensive rental space, smack in the middle of Georgetown. Who OK’d that bright move??
One of the 400, I hope!
Jennifer, try calling your office and see what happens!
Better yet, try leaving a message for someone to call you back.
I agree. I have tried e-mailing to derwecare@gov.ky several times, never had a rely. I then tried telephoning and each time left a message because no-one answers the phone, and asked for someone to call me back, to date no-one has bothered!
derwecare@gov.ky is on their web page. I’m disgusted that this Department has the nerve to call it ‘wecare’.
I need to say this…getting in touch with DER won’t stop the Immigration Department from continuing to issue work permits when the big firms continue to make suitable qualified Caymanians redundant, and shift work permit holders from one position to another without the permit being amended, which is illegal.
These companies soon after making Caymanians redundant will advertise the same positions, and when their Business Staff Planning Board (BSP) go for the meetings work permits are still granted.
I personally have sent correspondence to the Cheif Immigration Officer, and the Head of the BSP addressing my complaints (over 4 months ago now), and to date I am still waiting to hear from someone.
Something has to be done to protect Caymanians. It seems like it is "who knows who" on these Boards!!!
As a "feed" up Caymanian I cannot really understand how you can expect to hold down a job at one of these big firms. Basic English is a requirement for almost anyoffice job and certainly at those big companies you mention.
Unfortunately it is the minority of Caymanians like you, that give the rest of them the bad name. You constantly moan about not being offered a directorship you feel you are entitled to based entirely on your birthrights, despite having no skills, experience or qualifications.
If some of you actually applied for jobs that were appropriate to your skills and qualifications (i.e. start at the bottom and work up the organisation) then you wouldn’t have any problems. You can’t expect great jobs when your highest qualification is a 25 yards backstroke swimming certificate.
If you were willing to start at the bottom on a fair wage, turn up on time, don’t mess about on the internet all the time, don’t take personal calls in meetings and interviews, don’t leave early all the time, don’t suck your teeth every time a request is made for your time and occasionally complied without moaning, then you’d notice that the ‘glass ceiling’ is a figment of your imagination. All you have to do is be professional at work.
Stop blaming everybody else for you being a lazy fool.
To Anonymous Mon.09:59 Did you consider the possibility of a typing error,or were you too eager to vent your prejudice?
"The rest of them." How delightfully telling. I know the author of the original post, and believe her last employer has misled both her and the authorities as to her treatment. She is neither a fool, nor lazy. She has skills, qualifications, and experience.
Someone (possibly even you) broke the law in putting her out of a job. Not only are examples such as hers creating animosity, but if it comes to court, the light she shines on her own predicament, and the causes of it, will be uncomfortably bright for the likes of you.
Walk good Bobo, walk good.
We are not perfect, we are humans and have you ever thought that was a typographical error.
As another poster stated…she is an experienced Caymanian, hard worker, not lazy and dedicated individual.
Maybe you need to get off your high horses and think twice before you make such posts. You are probably another Caymanian who are our own worst enemies.
You seem to be talking about some of your expat friends ~ they too feel a sense of entitlement coming to this island. They feel entitled to the best jobs, to the best cars, to the best apartments and the right to treat Caymanians like dirt and with disrespect. Not because they are any better qualified or more talented than a Caymanian but simply because they have some one in the firm/organization who is rooting for them and pushing to have that work permit approved with all sorts of nonsense being written about the applicant being able to walk on water. Not only that, I know with a certainty that some organizations refuse to hire Caymanians.
I personally know of instances when the ex pat walks in late, leaves early, does poor quality work, constantly calls in sick, ensures that they take their so called sick days off, but you hardly hear about that on the street because the expat community protects the image of each other,. It’s a pity that Caymanians won’t give each other the support that they need.
Some banks for instances, who are headed up by expats want to give positions such as loan officers to foreigners even though we have qualified Caymanians with invaluable knowledge/conatact with the Caymanian community. Hope the Immigration Boards keep their eyes and ears open and not let those businesses pull the wool over their eyes like they usually do. They will surely witness the abuse of power.
I personally know two expats who have had their work permits come up
for renewal. The firms they worked for were required to advertise the
positions and they did for ”two” weeks..And ”not one” person
applied!! They were not high end office positions either. In this time
of high Caymanian unemployment one would have thought there would
have been some interest in the jobs.
It happened at my place of employment too. After two weeks, there were exactly two calls. The first wanted to know if someone could come around and interview them. The other asked if it was full-time, what the hours were. Then hung up. So, whatcha gonna do?
I wonder if these were the same entry level positions that required the applicants to have a Bachelors degree, 5 years experience and the salary was US$1,200.00 per month.
Slave labour was never the order of the day by or for "Caymanians" oh I must rephrase that as now we are all "Caymanians" let me substitute that for those with DNA to Terra Firma.
Government would do those with DNA to Terra Firma a good deed by getting rid of the many "Caymanians" at the hospital and others within the Government service and give those jobs to deserving and qualified people with DNA to Terra Firma.
Civil Service Association>>>> Where will all the civil servant’s who’s jobs are cut FIND employment??
DER>>>> With almost 400 jobs registered with them each month
?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Civil Service Association
There
I made the connection for you
I guess they dont want work badly enough to stay in touch?I know that DER is doing the best they can to put Caymanians to work but the folks have to have the interest to keep calling up and asking about any openings.Come on folks start calling the DER and see whats available.
Prove this person wrong again CAYMANIANS, be a pain to DER until you get your job.
Some may have jobs already.
Thanks for the valid input Peter, but you should also consider all the other scenarios,
1. Q?? Is the DER for the employment of Caymanians only?? What nationalities are these 800 "can’t get in touch withs". Phone contacts were taken by the DER, weren’t they? Perhaps many of those may have left the island if those are foreign workers.
2. When were these 800 registered? Perhaps they got fed up of waiting and concluded that the DER was not helpful (to the Caymanian People) as they have always been for years!!! For instance I had an experience of the same. They called me back some 8 months later after I had already attained employment. I did know that at that time and before, the DER was NOT helpful to the Caymanian people even though the employment problem was not as bad as it is now.
3. Many of those may have gotten jobs elsewhere and didn’t remember/bother to contact the DER to advise. For instance I had a scenario of the same. I just didn’t remember to call them to advise.
4. Perhaps these 800 had been calling back to check for a long period of time, but unfortunately the DER had no jobs for them during that period.
5. Perhaps these 800 had been calling back to check and disappointingly, did NOT get any responses to their calls!!! For instance, the countless Caymanians who have complained of the same from MANY YEARS ago.
Let’s try again.
People… The DER among the many other Govt. Departments need to do their jobs and have the departments function as they are MEANT to function;
Last but not least, the FACT that the majority of the businesses on these Islands(mostly foreign owned or managed) DO NOT want to hire Caymanians. This does not only hing on the cases that Caymanians are not qualified or are "too lazy/unreliable" as we are stereo-typed. This has MORE to do with outright DISCRIMINATION.
Aaahhh… the many atrocities the Caymanian has faced and is facing which goes ALL the way back to the 1960’s. What we need is some radical actions to happen to correct these problems.
Yours Truly,
Iron Clad
Iron Clad…..born Caymanian no doubt…and that is your greatest qualification!
You state opinions and call them facts! Any company carrying out a business on Cayman unless they can prove that there Caymanian participation when sought was not forth coming and hence can obtain special permission to operate must by Majority owned by a Caymanian.
This is the only point I have time to address in your ill conceived badly written comment.
Signed,
One of the many Caymanians who took the time to get an education and hence is happily employed.
So in other words, there are only 400 people looking for work. If the other 400 were actually seeking work (not just a hand out) they would keep in touch with Employment relations to see if there was anything for them.
Please don’t tell me they can’t afford credit, incoming calls are free, and so is showing up in person.
At the risk of sounding somewhat pessimistic …
Where is the WEBSITE LINK?!
If the rate of YOUTH (18 – 24) unemployment currently stands at 38% did anyone not think that maybe … just maybe it would have been somewhat useful to have a website or online database of all available posts etc.?!
We are dealing with a new generation here folks – if anything at all these very young people are online via home PCs, Blackberries and mobile phones.
Maybe we ought to be revamping the decades old approach of job placement. At a minimum there should exist a comprehensive and up-to-date online database of all available jobs. This would also greatly reduce the need for the manpower and expense of chasing down dead leads, furthermore, it is very likely that seekers subsequent to browsing such a database would right now be ringing the DER phones off their hooks.
Such information should be easily available for the seekers – instead we seem to be running some sort of well guarded secret job mafia.
If I am reading this article correctly it appears that the biggest hurdle facing the DER is outdated contact details for job seekers. This simply should not be the case in the year 2010.
I honestly hope I am missing something here and would be pleased to be corrected on my gross misunderstanding.
(There appears to be no contact info for the DER in the above article as well.)
!00% agreed, available positions should be on the/a website!!!