Cayman hopes for removal from Filipino black list
(CNS): Government officials have said that they are hopeful that Cayman will be removed from an employment blacklist in the Philippines following the visit of a number of delegates from the Asian country last week. The Philippine delegation came from Washington seeking “evidence of concrete and positive measures on the protection of migrant workers” here government information services revealed in a release on Friday. The Philippine government certifies host countries which they determine are in compliance with the protection of migrant workers but last year Cayman was placed on a black list prohibiting Filipino nationals from working here.
There are currently 2,548 Philippine nationals on work permits as well as dependants, residents and status-holders and the news was greeted with considerable concern. (See CNS news report here)
During the visit the delegates made enquiries about the local labour and social legislation, evidence of Cayman being signatory to international labour standards, and statistics or judgements relating to Filipinos. In turn, they were provided with copies of several relevant laws and other documents, local officials stated. The delegation sought to assess the employment and consular needs of Filipinos living here and included Labour Attaché Luzviminda Padilla, Attaché Sofronio Cortel and Welfare Officer Saul DeVries.
The CIG said it was confident that, “after reviewing the information provided, the Philippine Government will remove the Cayman Islands from the blacklist.”
The group met with Governor Duncan Taylor, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs’ Chief Officer Eric Bush, Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans and Department of Employment Relations Director Jennifer Smith and attended a lunch hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.
This visit follows a Consular Outreach Mission to the Cayman Islands last December by representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Havana, Cuba. At that time, 299 Filipinos took advantage of the opportunity to regularise travel documents and address issues such as passport renewals and replacements, validity extensions, and applications for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship.
Officials also stated that the British Embassy will be following up with the Philippine authorities and representing the Cayman Islands’ concerns regarding the blacklist.
Category: Local News
The beatings will continue until moral improves.
I have not read any of the comments on this story. I merely wish to say that I am a Caymanian and I employ two fantastic Filipino employees and their stories of their fellow Filipinos working for Caymanians and not getting paid despite pleading with their employer/ no pension/health insurance etc is absolutely terrible. We need a body here that really – I mean REALLY – monitors this situation and addresses these abuses. The old days which all we Caymanians remember, if we are honest, of saying "oh well, he/she's a Jamaician/ Honduranian/Cubian/Niggaraguan and they should be glad of a job etc are in the past.
Individual employers not paying pensions is not a Filipino issue. Like anywhere else there are good employers and bad employers who do not observe all the rules. But there is a recourse.
Please– "Jamaician/ Honduranian/Cubian/Niggaraguan".. respect these people enough to spell their nationalities correctly. Yes – I'm Caymanian… even though I like the name given to local girls recently – "Caymaninas" 🙂
Yes, this is why we need to encourage our Caymanians to go to school and university and gets degrees to return home to apply for a job as a nanny,House keeper or the cash register at BK. Remember that we did not make there country the way it is now – but the way things are going now we are not too far behind. As they say History repeats itself – just too bad some people didnt understand it and try to avoid that path of self destruction.
In response to Tuesday's Poster 9:08. I stand by my comments as to why we are bending over back backward to the Filopino's Embassy on this issue. When this story broke last year the Filopinos themselves were the first to denounce the story. May be a few of them were disgruntled, but that is the way accross the entire island. Yes I agree the wages are low, but they knew that when they apply to come here to work; they are not the only ones working for low wages. They are not treated badly and they choose to live the way the do. We have a house that was rented by a group of them and we could never keep track of how many were actually living in the house. Every time we visited the house there were new faces who claimed they were visitors. They took out our furniture and built themselves bunk beds so that they could squeeze more into the 4 bed rooms. They unscrew ed the lights in the living room to save on electricity and even unplogged the pump that took water into the bathrooms then wondered why the toilets were blocked up. They were living in a huge house– the rent was reasonable but everything they could dismantle they did. I say again if their Government think that they are treated badly then they should take them back home. No one is holding them as hostages!! I am tired of all of you who decide to come here and has nothing good to say about us. If it is not to your liking them please go!!
I might ask what you would do, faced with the wages on which these people live. You may be right that they choose to live in this way in order to send money home, but again, I might ask: What would you do in their shoes? Ignore a family in dire need at home? Would you really?
I have many good things to say about Cayman and I say them often. I apologize if you feel offended or threatened by an honest discussion of the issue. However, it is an important issue and my feelings about it have nothing to do with my immigration status.
As for Filipino workers, you may be right that no one is holding them hostage here — but circumstance most certainly is. As a country lauding itself continually for its Christian values, I would say Cayman has an absolute obligation to treat others better — not worse — than we treat ourselves, and to look upon strangers with love and mercy. Perhaps such behaviour would engender the type of society we hope to see in Cayman, as opposed to the one we see now, which seems every day more full of crime, greed, and an utter failure to regard the humanity of those around us.
Your post is illogical. If Filipinos are choosing to send their wages back home and live in sub-standard conditions here that does not in any way reflect upon their employers. It is likely that if they were paid 25% more they would send that back to the Philippines as well.
My post is in response to the idea that ensuring our legislation is fair and enforced constitutes "bending over backwards" and that we should not need to prove our fair treatment of foreign nationals because "they need us more than we need them." The point is that all workers — even those who are ethically obliged to send as much money home as humanly possible to support families in need — deserve our respect, and not the attitude that simple legal oversight is too much to ask. I said nothing about employers at all.
Either you were suggesting that employers treat their Filipino employers poorly or it makes no sense at all. Who is it that was offending Christian values?
I think it is time that the Filipinos understood that not everyone in Cayman is filthy rich.
Either Cayman or Dubai and they get easy employment and a good wage. Maybe Immigration could be diplomatic and get of the blacklist but in return cut down on the numbers and put a cap of say 1500 work permits. This was done over 10 years ago to the Canadian work force.
If it is so bad in the Philippines, why do they send all there pay back and invest in property and businesses over there. Over 7 million working all over the world.
I saw a documentary the other day about work condition sin the Philippines and one story stuck in my memory was a Filipino family living in a tomb and the father was paid 5 dollars a body to move bones from a burial site to a smaller wall tomb so they can make space for the newly deceased. They move these remains with bare hands, no protection clothing or breathers but there Government doesnt do anything about this. Can you Imagine a family of 5 sleeping in a rich Filipinos tomb and using the cement slab as a bed and every day they have to move there little belongings out and at night move back in. They have the nerve to put os on a black list!
Immigration try to remember that there are still over 2000 unemployed CAYMANIANS unemployed and some wondering were there next meal or next nights safe sleep is going to come from. I have no prejudice against any nationality seeking a better life but we must protect and take care and solve our own peoples problems first or else who is?
I am planning to return home soon and maybe get employed I really miss my friends and mostly being born and raised in a very decent and safe country,the chance to attend school and attain a sound education with the hopes and dreams of being something in my own land one day…..
I'm sorry but i am sick and tired of all this "there are still over 2,000 unemplyed Caymanians" bulls**t. I have had an advert on CNS & ecaytrade for a week now advertising for a Nanny/domestic helper and have I heard back from one single unemployed Caymanian???? NO!!!!
I would prefer to employ a Caymanian as I would not have to worry about work permit fees or repatriation fees, instead I get responses from Jamaican's and Filipinos. I am still keeping a look out as I don't need someone for a couple of months, but if I don't hear from one of these so called unemployed Caymanians soon, I am going to have to look at a permit holder as I will need to start the application process fairly soon.
Caymanian unemployment is a myth. There are just people who do not want the jobs that are available.
Have you tried putting it in the local paper where by those that do not have internet due to unemployment and cannot afford that luxury anylonger may stand a better chance of knowing it's available. Additionally, that will go in your favour if you need a work permit eventually, the newspaper adverts will need to be included. I am sure you have heard that Immigration will be turning back incomplete applications, and so far their directives do not cover Ecaytrade or CNS CLassifieds as approved media outlets for advertising a job.
Furthermore, if you are seriously looking for a Caymanian have you listed the position with the Dept. of Employment Relations, (DER) they would have a list of persons looking work in those categories.
Next time do your due diligence to seek a Caymanian before you blow up on this blog with your accusations.
Furthermore, Caymanians don't want to work for businesses that ill treat their workers, and under pay and over work them. Who can blame them, they must also get a fair pay in this country which is why the minimum wage of CI$10 is even more important now than ever before.
Do Caymanian Nannies/Domestic Helpers exist?
I didn't see anything in the post about nannies/domestic helpers Caymanian or otherwise.
Errr…..try reading!!
I just read your advert and I am surprised that people have not been knocking your door down to get this job! That's the kind of job that would have you owning your own home and car in no time.
"Friendly but very strict couple seeking a well matured person with experience to care for our 4 month old son
General House Cleaning
Washing twice per week and ironing
Able to braid hair would be a major asset
The requested hours are 6:45 am – 5:30 pm Mon-Fri
Nights and Weekends only if requested
Salary $500 per month paid every 2 weeks
Please do not require work permit right now as I am unable to take out a work permit until April. "
Maybe you should add "Beatings will not be conducted more than once weekly".
Such an ad, if it exists, would be openly flouting the law.
Go to eCay and search for Nanny/Helper. Here is the link if it works:
http://www.ecaytrade.com/detail.php?id=290326
You were right but at $2.11 per hour I am convinced that must be a joke. Who in their right minds would work those hours for that pay without accommodation provided? How would they get a work permit? For a start overtime should be paid for anything in excess of the standard work week of 48 hours. It will obviously fall foul of the $5/hour min.wage. Immigration should investigate this.
That is not my advert. I too looked at that advert and thought what a joke.
Infact I didn't post the salary on my advert, and although it is none of your business, we are offering the following – 45hr week (per the labour law not 48) + babysitting when needed at an additional $8/hr. Approx $1,300pm + 100% medical (labour law only requires me to pay %50) – therefore our job position we are advertising is way over the minimum wage and requirements by the labour board.
I would prefer someone who doesn't need a permit as I am wanting to hire a Caymanian as I am one myself.
And to the other poster who suggested I didn't really want to hire a Caymanian otherwise I would have gone to the Dept of Employment – I did actually and haven't heard back from anyone. So do not accuse me of blowing up and not doing my due diligence. Please don't give me that bull about not having the luxery of having a computer – I suppose it is ok for them to keep their luxury car then is it.
Wow! @ Tue, 02/07/2012 – 14:34. If that was your ad then you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You're surprised you got no Caymanian responses? I am surprised you got any responses at all from anyone. Do you understand that what you have advertised is illegal, unethical and immoral? Have you no conscience? If you cannot afford to pay a caregiver then you can't have one. It's that simple.
You may be sick and tired of hearing about unemployed Caymanians, therefore you should submit your application for for your expat nanny. If you really wanted a Caymanian, as you claim, then you would advertise in the Cayamnian Compass. Most of them search the classifieds daily looking for employment, not CNS or ecaytrade.
you right i tried for many times to get a caymanian to takecare of my son and all i got was i cant do that the caymanians that say ohh we cant get a job is sitting under the shady tree and if you think you will get a caymanian to be a house keeper or nanny you will have to wait all your life and thats why we will always have to get other people from other parts of the world i had 4 jamaicans and 2 filippinas and they were much better that the other 4
guana Run says"You dont like my apples,? then dont shake my tree" If the Fillipinos feel that they are treated bad in Cayman, then why dont they leave, that is my question. Besides I see the Fillpinos being treated very good here, I know they are treated better than the Jamaicans, and what ever bad they may say about a Jamaican we can still ask them for a napkin fork and ketchup at the fast food.
I think that it is a shame and disgrace that the Cayman Island Government have to be begging the fillipino Government to remove us from Black Listing. That is the last straw now. I do not know who is fooling anybody to think that the Fillipinos are not getting their correct pay and benefits here. Dont be fooled. Beside Caymanians are getting what they like to much to be sucked up to by hearing yes maam and yes sir. Slave mentality.
huh?
The majority of philippinos are paid padly, share a 2 bed condo with 10 others and are lucky if a kind caring boss pays their health insurance and pension.
18:24 Fillipinos are sleeping together like peas in a pod because they are used to doing that. They are used to sleeping side by side. Private bathroom and kitchen??? They do not want that. They can rent a condo doe two thousand a month, live like kings and queens, You will have 20 of them staying there, each only paying 100 dollars a month. I could not do that, because when I fart I do not want the whole ocean to hear.
Comparing to them making 5 five dollars a week in fillipines and making 400- 500 here, tell me which is more. I guess you do not see the big picture. XXXXX
If a man farts nexts to the ocean and there is not a group of people in the room to hear the fart does he make a parp noise?
You mean there are protections of Filipinos rights in the Cayman Islands? I thought if any Filipino ever complained they were thrown off the island, problem solved.
You thought wrong.
Why are we bending over backward on this issue. Invite them to take them all back home if they so desire!! The need us much more than we need them!!
I kinda hope you get your wish. don't grab the wrong end of the toilet brush bobo
And you wonder why crime is rising in the Cayman Islands?
This mentality is exactly the reason. The Filipinos "need us more than we need them," so by all means, let'scontinue to exploit them as much as we can. They are clearly inferior to you, I suppose, because they have had the ill fortune to have been born in a country not as rich as Cayman. You call doing what little we can to ensure basic human rights "bending over backward" and cannot imagine how it could benefit your own society to treat those less fortunate than yourself with a bit of respect. I'm sure you've read your Bible. Haven't you read the verse about reaping what you sow? Is a society that uses and abuses others really what you want?
If you have children, and they have read this post, they have now learned that they, and their money, are the most important things on earth, that human dignity is unimportant, that doing the right thing is nothing compared to having a few extra dollars in your own pocket. So why would you be surprised if later in life they decide that robbing tourists is more attractive than working for an honest wage? You will have taught them that it is a worthy goal to use whatever power they have to dominate others, to use them and wring everything out of them it is possible to wring in order to better themselves and their little scrap of land. You will have taught them to be narrowly parochial in their outlook and to ignore the human tragedies existing all around them in the world — to overlook the misfortunes of others whenever it suits.
Whodatis, one of your compatriots, would like us all to think that the political influence of other western societies on Cayman is the reason for its current state of turmoil. Others would like to think it is due to the influence of immigrants within Caymanian society. This poster (amongst others posting on this thread) is good evidence that all the worst parts of the human spirit are, very unfortunately, in as abundant and natural a supply in Cayman as everywhere else in the world. I wish it weren't so.
We all need to counter this kind of thinking when we hear it, if what we want is a successful society. In the words of your God,
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
Pacquaio’s servant, there is a very easy solution to your very disgruntled and unbalanced general take on the Cayman Islands and why they are on the Philippines’ Black List; cease coming here to seek and undertake slave labour! Really it is that easy, don’t believe me try it, you will be surprised at the outcome.
Well, maybe staying on this blacklist will help our unemployed caymanian youngsters find some work?
Do unemployed Caymanian youngsters want to be domestic helpers? Nannies? Grocery store cashiers? Fast food servers? A job is a job. But our youngsters want a silver spoon, they do not want to be taking less the very low paying jobs. If they REALLY wanted to get a job, they would apply at the grocery store or the fast food place.
So the answer to your questions is NO! it will just lead to other expats getting the jobs that the Filipino workers may leave.
Yes an I really see these caymanian youngsters lineing up in the streets to take these jobs!! I have had an advert on CNS & ecaytrade for a week now and not one response from these so called unemployed caymanians. who have I heard from? Filipinos and Jamaicans.
So before you start mouthing off about the poor unemployed Caymanians, why don't you take a look at all of the jobs advertised on ecaytrade and tell me thereisn't one job on there where an employer would turn down a qualified/experienced caymanina who is right for the job.
Whole lotta hopeing going on here. Nothing that would take work mind you. Or records. Or inforceing laws. Or showing respect. Hope it works.
Try using spell-check.
Cayman should have been on the list in the first place.
Oops. I meant should NOT have been on the list.
Here is why Cayman is on the Philippine black list.
A. No Minimum wage.
B. The cost of living in relation to what Philippine workers are payed in Cayman.
C. The fact that most employers treat Philipino workers like crap and people who hire them as "helpers"…AKA Slaves, also treat them like crap.
If it so bad here why not go back to the Phillipines?
No, we are on the blacklist because the recruitment agencies in your country are losing money by being bypassed, your politicians are corrupt also.
I guess that's a good reason not to bother ensuring our own laws and practices are fair, then.
That would assume that our laws and practices are the real issue.
Two separate issues, I would say. Still worth doing.
Unlike our own??
A. Then…if you don't like the wage, don't apply for it.
B. You should do your own due diligence into what the cost of living is prior to trekking to the other side of a country and see if your salary can allow you to survive.
C. Filipina helpers/nannies are quite highly paid with better benefits…though not as highly paid as the Canadian nannies….. On the market they come with more qualifications and experience and are paid accordingly. $1000+ a month avg. plus benefits (lodging and free food, toiletries, paid to learn to drive etc.) travel privileges
Not everyone gets a wonderfuly opportunity with the best of the best. But that is life. Some are lucky whereas some are not.
A. As I recall a motion was passed in the legislative assembly to introduce a minimum wage at $5.00/hour
http://centos6-httpd22-php56-mysql55.installer.magneticone.com/o_belozerov/31115drupal622/politics/2011/09/08/miller-wins-5-minimum-wage
B. Many Filipino workers are well paid as caregivers. Many choose to send their earnings back to their homeland and to live in sub-standard conditions here. If wages in Cayman are unattractive relative to the cost of living in Cayman the market should take care of that. No one is compelled to come to work here or to remain here.
C. I don't know how you can make a statement about what "most employers" of Filipinos do. I employed a Filipino helper for a year while my Jamaican helper was on rollover. She was very well treated and paid. She did make unfavourable comments about her treatment at the hands of her previous employer who happened to be Filipina. If there is exploitation it is probably by fellow Filipinos who recruit them and then demand a portion of their wages in return. If Filipinos are being mistreated there is recourse under the law.
There are many countries in which there is serious abuse (beatings, forced conversion to Islam, sexual abuse, being held against their will etc.) of Filipinos, e.g. Saudi Arabia, which do not appear on this list. It is therefore not credible.
The article above states that:
"During the visit the delegates made enquiries about the local labour and social legislation, evidence of Cayman being signatory to international labour standards, and statistics or judgements relating to Filipinos. In turn, they were provided with copies of several relevant laws and other documents, local officials stated. The delegation sought to assess the employment and consular needs of Filipinos living here."
This all seems perfectly reasonable. I don't know what happens in Saudi Arabia as I've never been there; if what you say is true, then clearly they should be on the list. However, I am not sure why that would stop Cayman from having fair and reasonable legislation in place and working with the government of the Philippines to ensure it is honoured. If, as you say, Filipino workers are being fairly treated by most employers, that will be evident to the delegation working together with our own government. The delegation paid its own way here, so it is no skin off our nose to show them around, particularly if we are justifiably proud of the way we treat our workers.
Obviously one does not have to have visited a country to be aware of the issues in it. Try googling "Filipino workers abroad abuse".
And its not only Saudi Arabia; there are a number of Middle Eastern countries and Asian countries (including Japan) in which serious abuse arises and which employ far greater numbers of Filipinos than here. Obviously this is not a case of accidental omission and the anomaly is not addressed by blithely saying that if it is true then they should be on the list. The question must be why are they not on the list but we are? The obvious conclusion is that the list is not really about the protection of Filipinos working abroad but has certain political considerations.
In light of that it is a bit preposterous that a delegation from the Philippine Embassy should visit to decide whether our labour legislation is up to their standards.
Incidentally, I made no claim about what "most employers" do. In fact I criticised the poster I was responding to for making such a statement when he has no such information. However, I am well aware that many of them are well paid as one has to negotiate wages with them.
But of course, given the tone of your post, you would prefer to believe that the reason is that our legislation is not fair and reasonable, that Cayman should be on this list and I am making up stories about Saudi Arabia etc.
I neither implied nor stated that you are making up stories. I did not say that Cayman should be on the blacklist, nor that its legislation is unfair. I simply made the point that diplomatic oversight on the part of the Philippines government is not unreasonable, where its overseas workers are concerned, and that Cayman, in any case, is confident it has nothing to hide. My preference would be for transparency in this and similar cases to avoid any suspicion or possibility of wrongdoing; you clearly feel differently.
In any case, the government of the Philippines has already sent a similar delegation to Saudi Arabia in an effort to create a bilateral agreement pertaining to overseas workers' right to protection under the law, and the dispute is ongoing. In fact, the quest of poorer nations to achieve parity in the global labour market is being supported by the UN.
Finally, the Cayman Islands government has stated that it is "confident" of being removed from the blacklist, in which case it would seem that the meeting was fair and the outcome reasonable. At the very least, we should wait to hear the results of their meetings before jumping toany "obvious" conclusions.
So suddenly you are aware of what is happening in the Philippines and Saudi Arabia and apparently without visiting there which you implied was necessary. The point is that Saudi Arabia is NOT on the black list and yet evidently, by your own admission, there are problems with respect to Filipino labour there. It is hardly "diplomatic oversight" to place a country or territory on a blacklist without first have performed the necessary due diligence. You are ignoring the obvious double standard because you wish to paint Cayman black.
What lack of transparency are you talking about?
The negative implication of your post is quite clear. You are completely disingenuous.
I believe it was you who advised me to "google". I heeded your advice.
I have no wish to "paint Cayman black." I simply wish for us to be transparent and above-board in our dealings with others, to aim for effective diplomatic policies and relations, and to stop insisting that what happens in other countries has any bearing on our own responsibility to be ethical. I want us to live up to the Christian values we so often proclaim.
I think our government is handling the situation well, and have no objection to their meeting with the government of the Phillipines, as you seem to do. We are both entitled to our opinions, and the fact that I disagree with you on this fine point does not mean that I am anti-Cayman, pro-Saudi Arabia or being disingenuous.
"…paint Cayman black."
It always amazes me when otherwise intelligent people refuse to acknowledge shades of gray.
You are an idiot. There is no 'grey list' only a blacklist.
My guess is that you are hoping that the Cayman Govt. will get become so nervous that it will pass all sorts of legislation to benefit expat workers. You are stirring the pot in vain.
I have no interest in whether or not the Caymanian government passes legislation to benefit expat workers, other than desiring that any legislation passed in our legislative assembly reflects values of which I can be proud, rather than ashamed.
I fail to see how desiring a just society is "stirring the pot." Which pot?
I certainly hope my words here have not been in vain. You may not be convinced, but perhaps some young people reading will be persuaded that it is better to treat others as we would hope to be treated ourselves, regardless of what other countries (or individuals) might do.
I am a young person and I do believe in treating others how I would expect to be treated. I think that is consistent with the existing labour legislation. I would be interested to hear how you think it isn't.
I did not say that the current legislation is unfair, simply that it is not unreasonable for the government of the Philippines to want to ensure that a) such legislation is in place and that b) it is honoured and enforced. What I object to is the idea of some posters that any foreign national coming here to work (INVITED to work, I might add) "needs us more than we need them" or "should be grateful for whatever they get" etc. etc.
No. These people are our equals in every way and should be treated and thought of in the same way as our own family members and friends. I cannot imagine why anyone would object to transparency in this case, particularly if, as we claim, we have nothing of which to be ashamed in the way we treat expatriates.
Those were not my sentiments so it appears you were responding to the wrong post.
Basically your problem is they are a cheap workforce
Most of what you say is, for the most part, probably true regarding how Phillipino workers are treated in Cayman by many employers…but it does not reflect the workings of the system that gets them into Cayman and other countries, in the first place.
An example…I attempted to start a small, specialised security business in Cayman in 2008; this business was meant to provide specialised services to a small core of clients, including professional nightclub security and personnell protection…it was not meant to cater to the commercial security market.
Upon advertising this business and its services, I received an unsolicited phone call from a Phillipino recruiter who assured me that he could get me Phillipino staff for my business at the drop of a hat….and that I should consider using him to staff my business.
This wholesale labour exporting for profit from the Phillipines has contributed massively to many of the exploitation problems that Phillipino workers experience around the world. including Cayman.
My business did not get off the ground properly for other reasons, but even if it had, Phillipino nationals would have been totally useless in providing the services that it was intended to provide.
The Phillipino Govt.needs to look into its own backyard for the labour exploitation that its nationals are experiencing as well…..
Just as the Cayman Islands Govt. need to look into labour protection laws for its own nationals, rather than exploiting Phillipino workers for the work permit fees.