Alden promises job enforcers
(CNS): As part of a major overhaul of the immigration system, the premier has promised that a new task force will monitor workplaces and ensure employers are obeying the law when it comes to giving qualified Caymanians work. Alden McLaughlin said government knows what is happening in the workforce and there are employers who are not giving local workers a chance by applying for and getting permits when Caymanians are available. The new minister of home and community affairs said the issue of enforcement would be at the centre of the reforms, with the creation of work permit inspectors that could properly monitor employers, making sure that they are truthful about permit applications and are not just taking on but training and promoting Caymanians.
Speaking at the PPM’s National Council Meeting on Saturday, when the premier and his ministers gave an overview of their first eleven weeks in office, McLaughlin said that the main weakness in the immigration system at present was not necessarily the law but government’s inability to properly monitor what is actually going on in the workplace. He said he now wanted to find a way to monitor and make sure that what employers say they are doing they really are doing.
With other major policy changes coming, so that most non-contentious permits will be dealt with by immigration staff rather than boards, the premier promised a more streamlined and efficient system. He said that the Progressives had focused on immigration during the campaign because the system at present was hurting Cayman. The premier said it had to be addressed in order to “wind up with a balance” between employers' need for permits and full local employment.
Addressing the issue of the Term Limit Exemption Permits (TLEP), McLaughlin said that because over 1,500 workers were all scheduled to leave on the very same day, he was forced to take action and allow them to be included in the abolition of the seven year term and to apply for permanent residency.
The TLEP was created by the previous administration as a stop gap solution to the feared mass exodus of workers, particularly in the tourism sector, who had all started their tenure on island around the same time during the post Hurricane Ivan period in 2005 when the recovery began. This mass exodus threatened to make a difficult economy even worse. However, the introduction of the specialist permit at the same time meant that these permits would all expire on 28 October 2013, merely pushing the same problem into the future.
The estimated number is 1,522 and all of those workers as well as their dependents will be gone by the morning of the 29 October unless government takes action, the premier explained. Amendments to the legislation will allow them stay and have an opportunity to apply for PR.
“A lot of people departing at the same time for a fragile recovering economy would be a problem,” he warned. “We believe that by extending their stay it will be a chance to stagger their departure and have them be replaced or stay.”
Addressing the complaints that their departure would pave the way for locals to get jobs, McLaughlin said this was not the case. He pointed out that at least 400 of the posts were domestics and sending them home would not automatically translate into jobs for Caymanians.
“We need to make significant immigration reforms but it is in best interest of Cayman that these workers are incorporated back into system and go through the process,” he said. “Sending them all away on the same day not in best interests of the economy. “
McLaughlin explained that this was part of wider reforms government has proposed to do away with key employee, as it was mostly members of the managerial and professional class of workers who were getting to stay. He said other very good employees generally do not get to apply for key and so do not get the designation or the ability to apply for PR.
Emphasising that the application process would be more robust, he said that just because people were allowed to stay long enough to apply for PR did not mean they would get to stay.
He the latest immigration review team was expected to have an interim report completed by October relating to wider reforms, which would be implemented by next April.
Category: Politics
Finally, CIG will be hireing more unemployed Caymanians to enforce a law. If they do a good job maybe then they can move on and enforce 2 laws.
Well well well.. look what we have here… employers that hire for cheap wage and to sexually exploit the poor expats that come here, moreover threaten immigration, is now getting their taste of the medicine. That is why they scared of Caymanians who know their rights. I say Alden you are now acting like a real PREMIER! TARA TIME TO KICK A%S!
Hmmm, the following is taken from the Cayman Enterprise City web site:
NO VISA RESTRICTIONS:
You can relocate staff to CEC from any country and there is no restriction on the number of people you can place here. We can obtain 5 Year Work/Residency visas for your personnel within 5 working days. (As long as they have a no criminal record, have a clean bill of health and speak relatively good English). There is also an excellent local talent pool in the Cayman Islands should you need non-technical administrative, management, accounting, legal and back-up support staff and we’ll gladly allow you to use our free jobs portal, should you wish to hire locals.
It seems that CEC thinks that "local talent" consists only of non-technical folks.
Sounds right.
Wow! Is that quote from the Cayman Enterprise City website for real? Honestly?!!!
"NO VISA RESTRICTIONS:
You can relocate staff to CEC from any country and there is no restriction on the number of people you can place here. We can obtain 5 Year Work/Residency visas for your personnel within 5 working days. (As long as they have a no criminal record, have a clean bill of health and speak relatively good English)."
Seriously?!! Al, PLEASE step in and at lease attempt to change this. Not only is it anti-Caymanian to advertise in this way but It makes us appear lake a 'lady of the night" making her offerings, to the detriment of our own people. Plus, when did Immigration change its English test requirements to "speak relatively good English"?? In fact when I brought in a non-English speaking worker a coupld of years ago (who was later replaced by a Caymanian after training) the requirement was to speak, write and comprehend English. not just speak relatively good Engish.
Disgusting and just plain wrong.
Let Suckoo loose on this. He'll get to the bottom of it. CEC is an almighty scam and the sooner Alden distances himself from it, the sooner he will become credible. right now, he seems to be empowering McKeeva's sell outs. CEC is a scam. Wake up Cayman!
You obviously have no experience of trying to hire, train and retain Caymanians for this type of job, 8:56. It's depressing to the point of soul destroying. They have to show up on time, every day and work shifts sometimes. Who me? No sir.
By the comments here, is any Caymanian surprised that the foreign owned and controlled businesses do not want any regulation or enforcement to see more Caymanians in their workplaces?
After all didn't they come here to escape regulation and should be able to do anything that they think is best for them?
– Puritan
How much is the government paying for each of the hundreds of security guards? Why can't "Caymanians" do this job? Pay the Caymanian the rate they pay the security companies.
This also goes for banks etc.
Okay, why don't you give up your white collar job to be a security guard? Sheesh! You people think it is only the blue collar that are unemployed Caymanians? Wrong! We have had many firms downsize and their are a lot of people with Caymanian status (Born, married, paper) out of work and competing for jobs againsts work permits in Accounting, Law, IT, Admin,and even HR!!!
and of one can't take another job while seeking the white collar job, what would the neighbours think!.
As a qualifed Chartered accountant that got downsized , I had to take a day job road sweeping and a night job at a laundrette to make ends meet (in home country), while I was seeking another accounting job in home country.
Seriously no concept of real world.
That is true, but what is also true is that as firms downsized here (often transfering people to other jurisdictions) and outsourced, thus sending expatriates off the island, unemployment of white-collar Caymanians went up, not down. Too many people here have no understanding of the economics at play in Cayman. Cancelling the work permits of white collar expatriates will only put more Caymanians out of those kinds of jobs because it will mean in practice that firms will simply more the job elsewhere, removing the local spending of the people with it, hurting the economy even more. Alden, and the rest of the government understands this perfectly. The best thing theycan do is provide a business environment where businesses want to expand, not contract. Then everybody wins.
Really? Reduce an entire population 's skill set to being security guards while you enjoy a white collar pay cheque? Please go back to wherever you came from and learn some better manners. Your snobbish mentality is not welcomed here.
Ouch!! Did I rattle your cage? No such thing as no work, just get off your but and look for it.
If being a security guard is below you then you will never join the ranks of the employed.
If your any good at what you do and show up for work you will get a job.
I often wonder about how many Caymanians are employed by these security companies. You are very right that the government admin building should be guarded by our own people but i guess it depends on whose friend is in a high seat to help a company, full of foreign workers, to get contracts for the job!!! XXX
You'll want a little money in he budget for management.
Ask the employers why and you will get a true answer.
I thought Immigration at the airport was going computerised for departures so that they would need less staff. Now the deputy leader says they will need more staff. Me thinks he needs to educate himself on the new processes and remember they are supposed to be downsizing. Get those oversized immigration officers working. And while he is at it get the trade and business licence board and department working. They have had renewal t&b's since February of this year that they have not dealt with. How hard and time consuming is it to renew a t&b licence. If their wages depended on volume of work produced it would be a different story. Then you would see productivity.
My my have you seen how many new government posts have been advertised since this new government took over. I thought they were downsizing the civil service through attrition. Some of them are such liars. Government is filling the posts that they want to fill and holding on to others till they get who they want in them. There are vacancies in the Brac that have been advertised, tested and interviewed and all now they have not been filled. Not because of attrition but because the best person for the job is not who they want and who they want did not pass the test or scored poorly in the interview. Nepotism at its best flourishing in the Brac and encoured by our leader
How do you achieve excellence in your business if forced to hire mediocre employees? Does anyone really expect employers to "lower the bar" to accommodate Caymanians? Only a fool would not hire an intelligent, honest, and diligent Caymanian. The problem is not with employers ,the problem is that the vast majority of the currently unemployed are either without the requisite skills or they simply do not want to work. CIG should do a skills assessment and psyche testing on all Caymanians expecting employment assistance. As an employer of over 200 staff, I am really tired of hearing about all of the highly qualified unemployed Caymanians. From an employer perspective, they simply do not exist.
No one is asking you to lower the bar, but to stop discriminating against Caymanians and hiring your mates many of whom are themselves mediocre.
No. The threat is to force employers to hire less able candidates who claim to merely "suitably qualified". That is lowering the bar if you have high standards.
No, it isn't. That is only your mind because you consider Caymanians automatically inferior. Obey the laws of the land and you will have nothing to fear.
Dollar speaking to a dime. Don't expect a "suitably qualified" answer.
You are so wrong. I had to leave my country and find work elsewhere after being pushed out of my job by a workplace bully. I have plenty of qualifications and plenty of experience and my role was filled by an expat on a work permit after I had been in the job for many years.
A-plus Truth!
And it starts at the top, where the multiple Chief Officers, Deputies, Assistants, Advisors are all scoffing up the cheese, while the grunts below have to keep up with their incompetance and mistakes.
Mr. Desmond and Sir Vassell are rolling over!
It would also be helpful if the new Government set up a task force to monitor Immigration to find out how many people that are on work permits that do not have jobs. Unfortunately, these days I have to take it as a given that any time I head out for the day, between the time I stop at the corner store until the time I leave work and go to the grocery store, I will have been hit up by a minimum of 5 people begging me for money or food. That's just the way that Cayman is these days. However, I find the beggers that hit me up by following me to my car in the supermarket after dark, makes me nervous. My last such experience last night was a big man in the Fosters Strand parking lot (I would guestimate his age being at least 40) and he spoke with a very strong Jamaican accent. I lived in Jamaica for many years when I was a child and therefore am very familiar with patois and the types of accents in Jamaica based on whether you live in country or rown. I asked this man if he was Caymanian and he said no. I asked him if he had status and he said yes, he had acquired status through a family member but he had no work and his family did not provide for him, so he was asking for money to buy a plate of food from Fosters. I'm used to the same guys that hang out at Batabano which may have a combination of issues beyond being unemployed, but what disturbs me is that we're gonna have to be exclusive regarding our beggars too. Technically they should only be Caymanians and we don't want other nationalities jumping on this bandwagon as well. I don't know whether the Fosters begger told me the truth or not about his origins, but I know alot of people that are unemployed and are on work permits, which in my humble opinion, a task force should be created for and to identify the increasting numbers of people that are here and do not have gainful employment at all or who were granted work permits as a favour and made to then seek their own employment. At this point in time in Cayman's economic history, we can't afford this type of favourism. Its bad enough that we have imported poverty from other countries to act as cheap labour in this country, but I really find it offensive to be hit up by non Caymaninas. What's next?
Some people come over on boats illegally.
Cut the C#$P!!! I didn't vote for this Gov't but I agree with everything they doing so far. Even in the US and Canada is hiring foreigners to add to their profit margin. They don't want to hire their own people and what is happening for some time now is their towns and cities are going broke. Their GREED can't stop. We can't just listen to business people only. I mean how much of the students now graduating still can't add and subtract and speak and write english properly? Well if they can then they should get jobs in tourism, banking type jobs. Their is no excuse!! We are destroying our society and the Calm we have enjoyed on this island for 500 years. How can men who went to sea and ship builders got the job done in the past ? These children are their decendents. Put their A#$ to work they need the job.
I have been saying for a long time they need inspectors to maintain our rights as workers. Even if we have to pay them. Great idea.
Also allow parents to discipline their children. It worked for us why not them? We are the caribbean not the US,UK or Canada. Lets be us and not them. God Bless you all for a safe and prosperous Cayman.
Don't generalise 06.57..maybe for manual workers or shop workers you are correct..however many employers will state they cannot find the people who want to work or turn up for work. In financial services it is different-employing a foreigner costs a lot more and work permits are more…but there are skills sets that currently do not exist here that those foreigners bring. And I know in my office, many a Cayman colleague is being taught additional skills, those that learn, will without doubt be doing my job one day..and good luck to them.
If I recall correctly, according to the last Census report, Financial Services sector was almost 70% Caymanian employees. Yet time and time again its the Financial Services sector that gets battered by the public with their misconceptions, and the governments with their ever-increasing fees. Time the finger pointed at the real culprits instead of making all this smoke and mirrors.
Through a different avenue in our business we are being forced to use Caymanians unfortunately we cant find anybody suitable. Production has dropped we are now operating at a loss and will soon shut our doors.. the 2 caymanians that have been with us will now be out ofwork. How is that good for the economy?
All your woes come from 2 workers? Sounds fishy.
What about the wider economy?
09.42 that comment just shows the lack of understanding about how business works…2 can screw it up very easily..
All problems eventually roll up to management.
Name it. Explain it. Justify it. Otherwise I call BS on it.
Most employers would kill for a good Cayman workers, but they are all in the civil service or on the dole!
HA! You jest!
Where in the civil service are they?
Surely not on the top floor!
Well, actually, yes they are on the top floor. Clearly, you have not looked very thoroughly or have done so with racist eyes determining who you think is NOT a Caymanian. What you might have said is that there are Caymanians on the top floor (and other floors in the new building) who are there ONLY because they are Caymanian and not because of ability.
BS no one on the social services gravy train is going give up the freee money by getting a permanant low paying job, we not stupid.
Stop people … just stop.
Read the following article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2378340/Its-firms-duty-employ-Britons-says-minister-Taking-migrant-workers-easy-option.html
The all powerful truth of our situation is that despite how so many try to spin it into one unique to Cayman – this is clearly not the case.
As you read the article, simply replace the word "UK" with "Cayman". Lastly, in the comments below, click on "best rated" and "worst rated".
(The similarities are uncanny!)
I decided to add a bit of much needed context to this discussion.
Of course some will attempt to further alienate the needs and expectations of Cayman from that of the average person today – but it is what it is, folks.
In fact, I believe what the above article and its accompanying comments demonstrate is so powerful to this debate that it basically says it all.
Is is what it is.
Cayman Islands, 55,000 people, UK 65,000,000 people and with an EU charter that says they must take EU workers (except Romainians and Bulgarians currently). Economies are completely different. No similarities at all. Try again please.
LOL. Umm…the fact that the UK is part of a common market and Cayman is not, and that Cayman is much smaller, actually strengthens the point Whodatis is making.
This is not a Caymanian vs Expat problem, this is a 100% Caymanian problem. A majority of businesses have to meet the requirement of 60% ownership by a Caymanian so the responsibility lies with the Caymanianownership as they can carry controlling power. If they choose not to use it, the merry go around continues on.
Play on everyone.
Would you please stop with the 60/40 mantra. The vast majority of significant employers are not caught by any 60/40 requirement. That is, none of the banks, fund administrators, insurance companies, law firms, accounting firms, hotels, telecom providers etc. etc. etc. And of course "Caymanian" includes status holders and so covers the Dart group etc.
Caymanian is Caymanian. Who are the largest employers on the island?
CIG
Dart (yes he is Caymanian)
Fosters
Kirks
Walkers
Maples and Calder
Soon to be the Shetty Hospital Group
etc…
Expats dont have a voice in this equation or the solution. A Caymanian solution for a Caymanian problem will result in a much better result long term if the above are held to account with regards to hiring. Ownership and responsibility will solve this issue head on.
Funny how you leave out the Ritz out of that list when it is clearly one of the largest employers. Didn't fit with your preferred narrative? The fact is that MOST significant employers are NOT 60/40 owned.
No individual with the levels of information and understanding that you demonstrate could genuinely believe your conclusion.
Just for the record, I have absolutely no respect for your opinion and you ought to be ashamed of yourself for playing such games.
Signing off.
Definite signs of troll poo here.
As time now permits I have taken the extra step to highlight some of the "worst rated" comments to the provided news story from the UK.
It's firms' duty to employ Britons, says minister: Taking on migrant workers is 'easy option'
– bamsy, Edinburgh, 26/7/2013 7:28
"Bull. Too many times Young British workers have proved to be less able, less energetic and lacking in basic education and dress sense. It's a competitive market out there and employers should choose the best."
– redsnapper99, camberley, United Kingdom, 26/7/2013 7:57
"It's not an easy option. The Brits want high wages and many are just bone idol."
– pip, bristol, 26/7/2013 3:24
"THe British are idle cant turn up on time and are perpetually off sick so who can blame employers?"
– Tinker, Chester, United Kingdom, 26/7/2013 5:51
Interesting, isn't it?
Bear in mind – these are not the words of Whodatis … remember that as you click "troll" and compose your reply of personal attacks.
#contextiseverything
Context is everything, wonder why you do not put that in context of a working population of 40+ million, of which some 3-4 million is foreign (heard today 140,000 Bulgarians now.) The point is that the majority by far are Brits (granted from all kinds of origins), but there are no barriers to EU (nor Caymanians) wanting to work there. And for Caymanians and EU citizens no work permit…now, lets just think a minute how fair that is.
And yet here, we still have to pay a lot to get a work permit, and get moaned at all the time. The work permit makes us uncompetitive, but business still wants to pay for it…you have to ask yourself why? Is it to screw Caymanians? I dont think so…the problem is much much deeper. And will take a lot to solve. And Cayman has to really understand that problem before it can solve it. I think the politicians do get it, they are just too afraid to grab the nettle and resolve it…so it will go on and on and on
Feel free to attempt to spin all day long poster – but the story really speaks for itself.
Burns you up inside doesn't it??
Sorry.
While all that is true, what on earth has that got to do with Whodatis's post, including the quotes?!
Either those posters who have clicked "troll" for this post don't know what the term means or it means they are completely defenceless against the point Whodatis is making. Bullseye, Whodatis!
You nailed it as well, poster – so “bullseye” right back ‘atchya!
Thanks for the support – means a lot.
The Cayman Islands….land of fake C.V.'s, hyped up Resumes, and multiple fictitious "Honors Degrees". Throw in Lazy employers in all industries and occupations and you have the perfect recipe for fraudulent work permit applications and submissions, discrimination on multiple levels, and positions created or held for someone specific already in mind, all done with a wink and a nod against the laws of the land.
Ever heard of heard of a company outside of one of the auditing firms who pull in their fair share of qualifiied young Caymanians that have a dedicated training system? If so raise your hand, name yourself and state your case. Otherwise clean up your act, get ready for reality or just leave and take your misery with you. The good companies will gladly expand their operations and take up your market share. Never expect your clients to miss you as they will see how a well run professional company turns cartwheels and run circles around you while they wonder why they did not make the move sooner.
Time to outsource divisions, either abroad or to the SEZ.
listen to Wayne Panton, he sees it clearer, people must be matched to a job that their skillsets match, then you may get more competent Caymanians in the work force, it's all about skillsets, then of course the determination and respect to show up for work daily and not be late, but to show up for work daily and not be late and don't have the skillsets for the job amounts to imcompetency as well.
Skillsets matched to the appropriate job + showing up to the job daily and being on time = competent employer.
Different people have different skillsets and need to be matched to the appropriate job to match their skillsets. Just because a person is Caymanian, doesn't mean they are automatically skilled in any job, they have their own unique skillset and should work in what they are skilled at.
i would love to see Wayne Panton have a strong role in revamping this whole situation with Caymanians being out of work , he's very wise about this whole skillset issue, very wise.
SKILLSET! SKILLSET! SKILLSET!
I keep hearing all these businesses will leave us if they cant hire expats, so let them leave, im sure all the competitors would absolutely LOVE that. All that trash talking of not being on time, that would be a universal problem! I'm more interested in limiting the rape of these islands by foriegn workers who dont do anything for the economy. the wear the same clothes everywher, the same tired flipflops, they only buy old used jalopies that pollute up the earth, sip on cheap drinks for hours… send them home with thier gold and lets hire and train the people who belong here. As for Alden putting enforces in the workplace, HEY ALDEN, THE UNEMPLOYED ARENT WORKING. GET IT!?
"Suitably qualified" is the mantra of the mediocre.
"Absolutely, perfectly qualified and experienced in my way of thinking. Look like me and speak like me" is the fictitious ideal that most expat controlled firms in Cayman measure Caymanians against and use this as an excuse to not hire Caymanians.
…except that mediocrity is not the preserve of Caymanians but in fact describes many expat employees on these Islands.
to except fhat mediocrity is ….. Wed 08/14/2013 – 11:51
What is the preserve of a lot of expat employees on these islands is what is constantly making headlines:
"charged with stealing over a half million dollars, charged with stealing over 2 million dollars and the lsit goes on.
:
:
What describes a lot of expat eml
Describe for me in Caymankind retoric what you think of your ex-"honorable for life" king of the Caymanians Bush? Is he what you call an expat?
And yet they have jobs. Hmmmmm.
This was so funny I almost pissed myself up, job enforcers what a joke. We have boards that could nip alot of our problems in the bud.
Cayman already has some stringent laws on the books, we just need the overstaffed CS and the immigration boards to grow some testicles and start defending the Caymanian, job inforcers is not the answer.
The boards need to start applying the law straight across the board, I know as I'm speaking from expirence, too many shortcuts are allowed and the boards are just as complicit as the unscrupulous employers, because they know who they are and they continue to turn a blind eye.
Case and point why are violators of pension laws even allowed to get work permits, apply for residency?
I have a suggestion on how to keep in line, those employers who insist on hiring foreign workers. As we all know a lot of these businesses tend to put ads in the media for persons with masters degrees etc. and with a minimum of 10 years practical experience in the use of every conceivable software for a computer plus the ability to read the mind of everyone they work under. Not quite that outrageous but pretty darn close! This is all done {in my opinion} to discourage any "Caymanian" from applying for the position! And it works more often than not.
Here is my suggestion on how to make sure that any foreign worker who is brought in, or any foreign worker {non status holder} who is already on Island, who has been offered a job, will have to tested on the subject matter pertaining to the job being offered, to determine if they are qualified or not, as stated on their CV.
This test should be administered by a "Job Certification Board" JCB, a board consisting of Caymanians who have the varied academic backgrounds and skills to conduct such tests. After which, if the person tested is found to be qualified as stated on their CV, that person may then take the position offered, but only if no qualified Caymanian desiring that position is found.
And I'm sure once this protocol is implemented, you will see a substantial drop in the number of foreign workers coming in to take some of these positions.
If your JCB understands the operational business of the companies that invest and employ here as much as the Work Permit Board do, then it will just same shit, different department. The company I work for test me and the applicants for my job every work permit renewal. I am in Financial Services and have specific onshore experience and qualifications not readily available here. I get almost 100% and to date, every applicant has scored less than 50%. Yet still the work permit board expects my employers to replace me with someone who simply can't do the job, or if they could, would simply not be productive. Everyone seems to forget that those employers who set up shop here are in the business of making profit. They are not the educational facilities that the Cayman government should be providing for its people so that they can fairly compete for jobs. The whole system is f*$%ed up and counterproductive, and this proposal by the new government will only make it worse, with more folk (Enforcers) assuming they know the business better than the employers themselves, and making decisions on behalf of employers. Level the playing field by improving education in schools and colleges CIG. Stop taking the easy way out by fobbing your responsibilities off on the employers and others that invest and do business here. If the playing field was level in the first place, there would be no need for all of this as everyone would have a fair chance at these jobs.
@9:43 please see article posted with Whodatis' comments. You clearly need to see the big picture and brainwashing that continues here.
Hey I have to disagree that the responsibility lie squarely with the Government only. Your employer has a responsibility to train they cannot only reap the non tax issue only. What have you done lately to give back to this society that has welcomed you and allowed your employer to operate here tax free. You did not wake up one morning and was a qualified rocket scientist you had to be trained, we have colledge graduates here that are without jobs that are just like you when you were wet behind the ears so be careful how you bite the hand that feed you. What should be done is when you came here on your work permit a qualified unexpierenced Caymanian worker be seconded to you paid for by the Government to understudy you as you got the on the job training so we can send you home after your tenure. If you wish to stay then you have to provide a minimium service mandatory of mentoring and proof of investment or take your sorry a;;;s home. Just saying……
Will the "Job Certification Board" composed of only Caymanians have black shirts and shiny black leather boots, and when the applicants are questioned – will they be tied to a chair? Will there be a bright spotlight in the room?? Can the board accept bribes?? Will anyone with blond hair and/or blue eyes be automatically excluded? "I vill ask you again!!! Vat ist Batabano!!!???!!! Speak!!!!
"Pick up their head!!!"
Let see, you paying my rent, you paying my light bill, I am getting food stamps, I don't need a job, I am working full time scamming the system, thanks idiots
Camana Bay law firms should be a main focus. Why should a born caymanian who has gone further and beyond in their role, outperforming others within their same role class(this being noted by their management) be put out of a job not because of any true work related issue of their own, but a falsified claim stemming from the fact that the business does not have the desire to see a “special” expat leave and for that caymanian who can do their job and has been training/helping the expat, do the job in the event of their absence? The alternative of keeping the caymanian and actually advancing them is also thrown out of the picture as well because once the caymanian has been used up as a mule to help the company get its expats up to par and all geared up, they are then seen dispensible rather than fit for promotion. This is how these companies are saving money also to help fund their love of permit apps, not actually promoting caymanians but enslaving them then ultimately disposing of them without ever compensating. These are the Crime Lords, these businesses, look at what they are doing to the people of this country, it is horrendous and despicable. Then they claim that your children are bad after they put them on the street without justifiable cause, stripping them of their independence and means to legally survive, in order to have some deep pocketed, elegantly eating expat remain in the business rather than the person who really “needs” their job. Sick and twisted I say.
Chip and shoulder come to mind.
If this a true and complete accounting of what happened to you, I strongly suggest you report it to the labor relations board (or whatever it is called now). You should have a slam-dunk case.
Now I do question if there is more to it (or maybe is just some hypothetical that didn't really happen at all). A law firm who would make such an obvious and blantent abuse of the law opening themselves up for claims does seem unlikely (but certainly is possible I guess).
But again, if this is a complete and true accountting, please report it or provide full details and names here for a public shaming. Short of that, if I'm honest, I'm assuming there is much more to the story (or is a made up story).
It happens all the time, if you don't kiss *** you are not a 'favourite'. It will also be denied that there are any favourites.
Unfortunately, not a slam-dunk case, try going up against one of these large, wealthy firms.
Not possible to provide details and names for public shaming, doesn't work that way. Talk contracts!
Does the labor (?) relations board really care or do anything?
22.08…sounds like you got passed over for promotion-the attitude in your post tells us all why that is…
Unlike the other comments, I agree with you. Happens all the time and if you complain or report it, it just gets worse!
Wow Anny omis, aren't you mad! You just confirmed that Alden is certainly doing something right for Caymanians by appointing enforcers, otherwise it would not have ruffled your feathers so much!
U all complain for one reason only. You’re getting the benefit of the island wealth with cheap labour and at the same timecausing stress to those that call Cayman home. Please do us all a favour take y our slavery somewhere else. My parents raised 6 of us and still here today with Great Grand children. Don’t add any stress to our people who call Cayman home. Progressives, do what you all have to do. The real Caymanians got your back.
Th anks
Caymanian to the bone.
Born. Bread n toasted.
I can't wait until there is a task force to deal with Employers who are stealing pension!
I agree – its been going on for years and is still going on with current workers. How long are Hurlestone workers going to have to wait for their money
Let Govt. put there own house in order first. They are just a guilty as passing over Caymanians without having to the play the work permit game.
A real shame what's been happenng at the Govrnment – especially at the senior positions.
Nepotism and lodgemanship gone rampant!
This xenophobia is what helped put Mac in office 4 years ago. Get a grip Alden. Teach Caymanians that they need pay attention in school, show the f*** up on time, and have skills to offer in a competitive marketplace.
Fine – but he is only talking about the ones who meet your criteria. Because you forget to tell immigration when they apply, we get to free our society of you. Get it?
Right on Brother!
What have the one's who do not meet your criteria ever done for us?
Let it be recorded in the minutes that every man (or woman) engaged in the struggle to free society from whatever, will stand with you. Apart from one who has a bad back.
Siblings, let us free society!
Yeah and you're doing your own economy a big favour shutting a business aren't you.
It would be a lot easier to comply with the rules if they were consistent and WRITTEN DOWN, instead of made up as the immigration department goes along.
Huh? They are written down – in the Immigration Law. You just choose to ignore, or evade them.
These kind of comments are not helpful to either Caymanian nor expat communities. Nor is it useful to have a government policy without consultation with the interested parties, it just begs for another disaster for all concerned. We all, Caymanian and Expats, should be pushing for an all inclusive process with CIG where we can constructively put views to government on how to solve grievances with work permit holders and Caymanian unemployed. Both have good points to make.
lol. So CIG needs to consult the private before it decides to actively enforce the law which the private sector is already bound by and should already been observing?
"Caymanization" was a PPM policy of getting rid of good workers in important jobs because of their nationality and replacing them with the politicians' relatives. It did not work out very well.
Also, it's working out great for the civil servants – they have figured out that they can apply this hiring game to their own family & friends!
Malicious nonsense.It was policy of getting Caymanians back to work, and that's your real beef with it.
True Anny but the thing that you and most deny is that the private sector is guilty of breaking the rules to not hire Caymanians. Regardless of what you or anyone think we have Caymanians that are hihgly educated and hard working. They just have to take the time to find them.
So looking out for the employment of Caymanians is xenophobia? lol. That is the job he was elected to do. Those who obey the law need not fear the enforcement of the law. What put McKeeva Bush in office was stupidity and greed.
Xenophobia is such an overused term
…and inappropriately used as well.
I don't know what it means, but it sounds like a foreign word and I don't like foreigners.
You need to a get a grip. If you think that all Caymanians who have problems getting employment have no education, poor work ethic and attitudes guess again. This sort of anti-Caymanian rhetoric needs to stop.
I only hire Caymanians. My business requires only the willingness to learn, work hard, and have the basic math and English skills that should be requisite for any school leaver. Yet finding qualified Caymanians is a nightmare. Instead of addressing the underlying problem of substandard education and poor work ethic, whilst additionally helping existing businesses, and encouraging new businesses to locate here, we are going to put in yet another layer of govt. bureaucracy bs. And at what costs?
I'm tired of hearing this old line. Everyone knows that there is a big divide in how the big businesses in Cayman see and treat Caymanians and expats.
Another step backwards. These new task-force members will be political Commissars, just like they had in the Soviets. The whole purpose of the exercise seems to be to prolong the affirmative-action program indefinitely. Does that ever work? Shouldn't Cayman be aiming a bit higher than to force private-sector employers to hire the "adequately qualified"?
Of Cayman's own citizens. Every capable, willing and able Cayman should be employed prior to work permits being issued.
We are a society that is supposed to be governed by laws. He is aiming to enforce the law. Law-abiding residents will have no problem with that.
To:Submitted by unanimous (not verified) on Tue, 08/13/2013 – 19:53. Can you please state what is your problem with hiring persons who are adequately qualified? Would you prefer that we aim for "adequately qualified and a non Caymanian"?
Every "new initiative" ( the latest is a "new task force") that governments come up with, no matter how worthwhile they seem, rely on civil servants to implement them. That is why over the last 10 years we have seen the civil service expand. Moses says we need more immigration officers at the airport to deal with the increased volume of tourists. But when the critics of the growth of the civil service come out in force, they can always blame it on the convenient scapegoat of the Public Management and Finance Law. Which of course would have absolutely nothing to do with these reasons for increase.
And this is mostly because of bad leadership!
If the Governor + Chief Officers can't manage their people and poliies, they should be replaced with efficient managers – Caymanian or not!
Not true – gvernment is still suffering (but in denial) the havoc caused by PMLF – esp the hyper-levels of HR people, accountants in every dept – instead of a small, centralised service such as was there up to the 1980s,
A small centralised service that consisted of overpaid bookeepers (the present Chief Officer and also the head of Treasury are not even CPAs) running a cash based system totally unsuited to modern day demands for proper accounting (accruals) and unable to pay their bills on time.
Did you ever add up the number of people in the "small centralised service" (Personnel, Treasury, Finance Dept) you refer to, bobo? No, I thought not.
Yea! Force Caymanian businesses (60/40 right?) to hire Caymanians and get rid of expats. That should fix All the latest problems CIG has created. Caymanian business owners can always get a job in civil service running something. Is itjust me or does it seem like the Caymanian PRIVATE business owners are too scared to complain?
Most employers in Cayman are not 60/40 owned by Caymanians. Check out the hotels, banks, law firms, accounting firms etc.
What you say is in fact true – but that is not what the filings with Government agencies say.
60 40 is a figment of imagination – a lack of enforcement of which has lead directly to the destruction of Cayman.
What does Alden want? My guess is a police state.
Well, if thats true,then you're going to have to find some new ones…the ones we have now couldn't find their own backside with a flashlight and a map…so how they gonna enforce a police state??
Same old PPM.. Why does Alden think that the exodus of 1500 work permit holders is going to bring our economy down.. 400 of them by his own admission are domestics…They all knew they had to leave and so did their employers. They even got a reprieve for a longer time.. Why couldn't the employers find another expat or better yet train a Caymanian for some of these jobs when they knew their time was expiring. Why is it that we are always catering to others and not to our own. Do we really need the work permit fees that bad?.
What Alden needs to ask is what would happen if the 2000 plus unemployed Caymanians would leave Cayman with their families what would happen to the economy then. Caymanians are soon going to have to do as the Cubans and others do and look for other countries where they can survive.
I am so disappointed in Alden and the PPM. It pisses me of that once again I was fooled into voting them in…all six of my votes in George Town. Now I remain unemployed with a Masters Degree whilst they ensure that the expats that hold the jobs that I could have are guaranteed permanaent residency ensuring that I will never ever get any of those jobs.
Alden, all I can say is shame, shame, shame!!!!!…You let me down again and I expected better. I expected that you would at least look out for your fellow Caymanians first…but not even a couple of months and this….
"Why couldn't the employers find another expat or better yet train a Caymanian for some of these jobs when they knew their time was expiring?"
Ask McKeeva
Ummm….you seem to have forgotten that it was the UDP which suspended rollover for them because it feared them leavingall at once. The amusing thing about these posts is that some are complaining that Alden is too pro-Caymanian (what they call "xenophobic") and others that he is too pro-expat, which probably means he has got the balance just right. Of course some of them are just UDP supporters masquerading like they actually supported the PPM.
I can boldly say I am not a UDP supporter so get that crap out of your head…I voted for PPM because I thought they would do better this time around..hasn't happened!!!
Look here Alden: The real challenge is the top brass hroughough government, whose incompetence has caused this systemic mess.
While the politicians have the duty to now fix it, the civil service elite still have their posts — and are at best incompetent blockers of progress, or at worse, intentional sabateurs.
As Governor Taylor called them before he left, they are "Slackers" who don't even know how to draft a business plan – and yet are paid like kings and queens!
Slash the top, I say!
As if Governor Taylor had his hands tied in making a difference. What he can say anything he wish now in his in home in Mexico. lol
It is hard enough to do business in Cayman nowadays without more enforced charity hires.
What is the point of getting enforcers. The NWDA previously associated with the Labour Department sit on the Immigration Board and repeatedly report to the Board and Immigration atrocities that are happening and they are all ignored. Just another excuse to pretend that they are doing something to resolve and ongoing matter and create more jobs for more deadweight and overweight civil servants. Use the resources that you have and listen to them and permit them to do their job.
One would think so, but the NWDA is not sifting through applications or advertised jobs in the newspaper. They are part of the problem by approving work permit waivers and when a white collar business gives an irrational excuse as to why they do not interview or hire Caymanaians, the NWDA says "ok". The NWDA is not doing their job! Just read the Friday papers, it is rubber stamp renewal time 100%- please send the Caymanian with the masters degree to my office, we will welcome to any department and happily send an expat home at the end of their term.
Ever heard of "due process"?
The current system is for the head of the NWDA to bring up anecdotal evidence in meetings on whether the business hired a particular Caymanian in this or that position. How is that fair to the business? No right to know what is being said about them No right to reply? No right to a fair hearing?
Alden – you need to put Chief Officers and Depties/Assistants on contracts, so we can fire they when needed!
They are the bane of the Cayman government!
I sincerely pray and hope prior to issuing those TLEP with PR proper investigations are completed as many of the"TLEP" do not have key essential knowledge that no one else has. It is well known that Employers have been misusing this priviledge. Furthermore, there has been the serious of failure of ensuring Caymanians are training of these jobs. So giving them PR will be the same of the status giveaway. Lastly, I hope these "job enforcers" are properly trained on the matters at hand. Honestly, there are too many employers who are not adhering to the law ie. not providing health insurance and paying pension. To make matters even worse they treat their employees like indentured labourers and are quick to proclaim Caymanians are lazy. But, who wants to be employed as an electrician for an employer getting paid $10 per hour and not have the benefits of health insurance and pension!! Employers within the constructions industry and businesses which are based on manual labour need to be fully assessed. There are people/Caymanians getting their feet ran over by forklifts while on the job with no health insurance benefits and the responsible government depts fail to address the matters.
Caymanians once again we have screw ourselves by believing the PPM Government was for the people…Seems more for expat than Caymanians….Another 4 years of suffering for us…
Should I say again!!!…..I told you sooooooooooo. Get rid of the party and go indenpdent….
They ar enot for expats. They just realized what we have been telling them. Some Caymanians do not want to work. While some are just under qualified. Or wont take the domestic job.
Just another committee of Civil Servants paid to do what the other groups on WP, BSPB and Labor Relations are supposed to be doing but are failing to do properly. This is nothing more than bureaucracy
@ MY 2 CENT, we need to provide incentives for enforcing the law now? Really? Please note that not every Caymanian is not gullible to what an expat has to suggest, especially only for their benefit. BUt I'll give you an incentive…..follow the law, keep the job &or business OR be subject to the fines, and maybe revocation of that T& BL… unbelievable!!!!!!
Sadly, some will say, 'Yeah that's true you nah, we should really give them something for following the law." But I'll be watching to see if the PPM is that stupid, no other word for it, checked ole Webster and everything!
the myth of caymanian unemployment continues…… god help the economy if these 2,000 'won't workers' are forced on employers in place of hard working existing staff….
Albeit I am for keeping caymanians employed and opportunities for upward mobility and the idea suggested by the Premier sounds too good to be true. Work permits are what sustains this country at least for right now. Is the premier stating that he would give a caymanian attorney a stake or an opportunity at job verses and expatriate attorney which government would earn $15k to $20k per annum on fees? I don't think so.
Mr. Premier why don't you look at Enterprise City for example what does this do for Cayman? All I see are the large colgraminate companies bringing workers to our shores without having to pay one nickel on work permit fees. Also are there any caymanians employed over there? Oh I forgot only Charlie kirkconnell and his school mates.
This facade needs to be looked at and addressed.
By some chance, were you referring to large international conglomerate companies? Ever heard of spell check?? BTW, it is spelled Caymanians (note the capital "C"). The rest of the glaring spelling and grammatical errors I will leave as examples only.
I, a Caymanian (again, note that pesky capital C) make hiring decisions on a daily basis, and examples of "literacy" such as this figure prominently in those decisions. My business and its clients deal with many of these 'conglomerates' on a daily basis. This correspondence needs to be highly literate and easily understood. I don't have the time or resources to send new hires back to elementary school to learn basic spelling and grammar. The low standard of education in today’s world (NOT just in Cayman) leaves potential employers little choice but to hire only those who can express themselves orally and in writing in a business standard fashion.
I'm certain that Mr. Charlie Kirkconnell (oh, note that pesky, yet most essential capital K!) makes his decisions based upon the same or similar criteria. The most telling example I can give is the several (past) employees who would ask me or other members of staff to assist them in balancing their checking account statements! That a secretary or ‘personal assistant’ or higher position holder could not handle such a basic everyday life skill amazed me to say the very least.
Does the Premier really think giving 400 domestic PR that they will stay in that job? If the Premier give them PR they are going to leave that job and compete with the Caymanians for the better jobs then those same households have to bring in another 400 domestic to replace them. Sorry I voted for the PPM.
LOL. Yeah, we believe that you voted for PPM. No one who supported a party in an election two months ago would so quickly lose faith on such a flimsy basis.
He did not say he would give the 400 domestics PR…He simply said that extending the term limit from 8-10 years would not mean that a Caymanian would be delayed another two years to get the job. So to your point it would not matter if they are rolled over in October of 2013 or 2015 the job would still be filled by another work permit.
Do you really think 400 domestic helpers will be given PR? Its up to the Govt. to decide who are the best people to receive PR and I doubt it will be given to those who are not financially independent. Give the govt. a chance for goodness sake.
Really 15:47? You would be shocked at how stupid some of those people that hand out status are! I heard of a case where a helper who cared for a well known lady was given status because the board members were sure the family would look after her!! The elderly lady has since died and I wonder if any of those idiots have checked to ascertain who is really taking care of that helper. I understand she is now seeking a hand out from the government. That is the truth of the matter my friend. Lunacy!
Where did you hear or read that 400 domestic workers was to be given PR???? No one is to be GIVEN anything. Persons will be allowed to APPLY and those who can achieve the requirements will be granted PR. That is what I heard & read. When you jump to conclusions you are usually wrong. Sorry.
You my friend, have hit the nail on the head ..you are sooo right !
What a joke. Those same domestic helpers are now marrying their bosses and reeking havoc in homes across the Cayman Islands. Read my lips. Do we need more on the Family Assistance Programme? That is what we got from the Status grants in 2006, in addition to the schools being overflowed with children, neices, nephews, grand and great grand children. Can government afford this burden?
And what happens when those 400 domestics retire or become too old to work? Who is going to be supporting them in their final years? Yes, we the public, as they can only become a burden on the public purse in the future, unlike those office workers who at least earn sufficient to look after themselves when they retire. Seriously, which is the better to grant PR to?
Will this "new task force" involve hiring more civil servants, Mr Premier?
We have so many useless people working in the DER can't you find one in that department that can do this job INSTEAD of wasting more of our monies to pay someone else's salary?
You cut my salary and benefits yet you will hire someone to do this job?
There is no need for a "task force" what the Premier needs to do is to ensure that the people at Labour ( whatever they are now called) are doing their jobs. That when they attend meetings at Immigration that they show up with their list of those genuinely looking for jobs- match them with the advertisement from employers- if there is a match then do not grant the work permit and tell the employers that there is someone locally who can fill that post. The employers should have been thinking along the lines of having some of these positions filled by local and their employees on work permits should have been told two years ago that they would be rolled out after two years. This should not now come as a shock. It is time now for Caymanians who are seriously looking for a job and are quallified to get these positions. Immigration should stop accepting work permit applications with these make believe credentials and by now should be able to read between the lines. They should be able to spot a fake application -i.e. where it is plain that the advertisement was tailored made to fit the person that they already have picked out for the job. Any work permit application with such rubbish should be thrown in file 13. Employers have been doing this for years and getting away with it. I realise that some Caymanians are saying they are looking for a job and hoping not to find it- but those of us genuinely looking for jobs should have a chance and employers need to understand this.
A new task force is fine, but just make sure it is made up of existing employees.
Existing, hard working and qualifed employees with no agenda would be better
His is the same ole same old mentality that is getting us nowhere. we elect so called REpresentatives who are elected on a mandate and then whenthey start to create policies for the betterment we start criticizing. People LET THERE BE LIGHT NAH. Stop arguing for arguments sake and putting down and being critical just fe so. If you have a real grievance then get other people with the ame or similar view together and go and see your representative. Lets give these Progressives at least a yesr nah before ona start wid aona tear down process. and another Ting.
In practice it doesn't work out like that, 12:33. That was what was supposed to happen to FOI, but others had to be hired to do the tasks that those following up FOI enquiries were no longer able to do.
I have a university degree, overseas experience in a top 500 firm, am Caymanian and every job I apply for in my professional field is filled by an expat renewal. Since I'm college educated and registered with the NWDA (hence: have a lot of time on my hands) pick me please.
How come you did not call on my business? I have jobs available. It may not be what you went to school for. As you said though you have lots of time on your hands.
To;Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/14/2013 – 08:50. Have you advertised the job vacancies and if so did you advertise here in Cayman? I got the impression that you are sitting and waiting for the "right" person to call on you.
My question to the current government is why take on the responsibility of monitoring work permits when residency is what is being proposed to such a large group of persons.
It is clear to me that the economy is growing but at such a pace as to not keep pace with the rate of population growth. Hopefully, certain investors e.g. Shetty group wil create a large number of lucrative careers in one indusrty but as our Caymanian population needs more growth in just one sector I think it is important to ensure that as much protection can be provided.
To keep this brief, I think that persons in their respective industries know best about persons potentially in a position to take their job. For example, if an Radiologist knows that a Caymanian is overseas trainingin this area but still applies for PR then they should be the one to blame. So perhaps an amendment to the law should be put forward to allow Caymanians to bring a civil action against such persons in the civil court to recover damages from such persons. In the same vein a listing of overseas scholarships can be provided to the public so that such permit holders are put on notice that someone may be coming and that they should exercise caution. Also, the various persons should be required to take out a surety bond to cover damages caused by their application for residency as we all know many will still take out PR just to flee the jurisdiction leaving the Caymanian with damages. Lastly, government should ensure that such Caymanians are granted legal aid as a right to persue cases against PRs for recovery of damages. However, costs and actions can be persued for malicious or spurrious claims.
This along with their new agency would be the best deterrent. And, lets be clear that this won't effect Senior Management as it is unlikely that a Caymanian could prove to a court based on the balance of probability that they meet the requirements or could they?
Maybe I am just a dreamer but I think this would strike the fear of God into those who seek to displace Caymanians or it could even be done by tribunal but I fear this would be open to corruption and political influence so let it be the judicairy.
12:04, Whodatis' comments do not even showcase the level of stupidity in yours.
Has it ever occurred to you that just because someone studies and gets a degree or certificate in a given field that they can still be unsutiable for a position in a company?
Just because you are educated, it doesn't mean you are gifted employment with whomever you please.
Do you also know that there are verying levels of degrees? For example, the UK system awards 1st, 2:1, 2:2 and 3rds. A 1st being the best and 3rd being barely a pass. If you get a 1st you are almost guaranteed to be offered employment from any right minded employer, where as a 3rd could be used for extra toliet paper in your hurricane supply box.
The vast majority of employable Caymanians are currently employed, those who make all the noise have issues barring them, hence why they are unemployed.
And no, this is not an expat, but someone born and bred right ya so giving you my 2 cents.
Well said. Bear in mind that you used to be able ( or possible still can..) get a diploma or honour roll or even a graduation certificate here just for showing up, regardless of what qualifications you achieved. In the modern world that just does not cut it any more.
If things have changed, I stand corrected.
12 48
You only got two supporters! I got lots of thumbs downs probably because it is already breeding fear as this would actually showcase what goes on in Cayman. Imagine on any given day you could go down and see the member of “society” in the dock. A light would be turned on esp if they made an effort to report them in the law books. But in Cayman, despite the plentiful sun we like things as they are. In dark filing room on a top shelf at the immigration office.
Bring out the glass boys and a pat on the back for you 12 48. You earn a first class honoursso put your blinders on a smile as you drive past our schools. Ding ding ding..A toast,
To a true Caymanian …a crowd echos …a true Caymanian in distinctly foreign accents.
Meanwhile your specialised country man sits in a far away land waiting to return home so he/she can care for his elderly parents. But Im glad you can justify yourself friend and I hope that 1st is doing amazing work for.your fellow countrymen.
Ummm … what did I have to do with all this?
You dream of us together at night, don't you poster?!
🙂
Hmmm, I just realized, I don't know the gender of Whodatis…
To:Submitted by SSM345 (not verified) on Tue, 08/13/2013 – 14:28. I am sure it was not your intent ,but you have just given the British system a severe backhand slap in the face.You state that a 3rd (Grade or Level) pass "could be used for extra toliet paper in your hurricane supply box".It is practically worthless. So why issue a pass when in fact it is treated as a faiIure.In other words anyone obtaining less than a 2.2 should not be given a pass put instead should be said to have failed.It is utter rubbish to give someone a pass when everyone else considers it a failure.
What a lot of nonsense.
This would be great news for Caymanians. Lets hope it will be enforced by the Immigration Dept. Also Caymanians should be reassured that they can send a copy of their application with the ads in the Newpaper.
Good points, but we need to go further and make sure that if there are Caymanians within an establishment and they have potential for upward mobility and are willing and able they should be given a choice. Too long our talent has been stiffled because we adont have anyone to check things out and since we have no unins, we get stepped on like somebodys cockriach. And another ting.
CNS, you need to add a ROTFLMAO button for coments like this one.
There are 2 sides to every story. Yes, there are qualified hard working Caymanians that are passed by due to an expat already in the job or recruited.
and yes, there are Caymanians that are difficult to employ- but the law is the law. For too long many have ignored the law and caused this problem.
untik we solve the 2,000 unemployed Caymanian problem this will continue.
This is absolutely typical of the paranoid and heavy handed mentality of government in relation to immigration. What is needed is not "enforcement" but "dialogue".
Before busting in the doors of a business to see who is doing what, why not try having a conversation and finding out the challenges of the business and what if anything more that business could do to hire, train or promote Caymanians. This is a conversation that should be had by people trained in Human Resources, not policing.
The language of this announcement strongly suggests that the new government learned nothing from its last stint in power about dealing with the business community. Announcements like this are enough in their own right to make potential investors think twice.
You cannot hope to reduce bureaucracy and stimulate the economy while ranting about how employers are not doing enough to hire, train and promote Caymanians and implying strongly that employers cannot be trusted.
Trained in HR? Pul-ease…. Our HR control freaks are our own worst enemy! Either they feel godlike because they discriminate against a local family name or refuse to accept paper Caymanians or married to Caymanians. Our flawed HR teams adore work permit holders to hold into their power.
Sorry, HR has not followed the law and has caused this mess
Lock up a couple of HR Managers (it is incredibly easy to determine who) and the law will immediately be followed by everyone else, without a need to go into all this crap.
You realize that its all sensationalistic politics at work ? ther ehas been and will continue to be a dilaogue, any sensible politician has to. The point is though that there must alo be measures implemented to support conclusions and agreements arrived at.. We have failed miserably on this over many years and now we are truly feeling the consequences. So!
There does not need to be any more dialogue. I doubt that if you are in another country, the immigration dept or government concerns itself with what immigration rules may or may not be working for a certain company or industry. The laws are there and they need to be enforced. For too long, businesses have gotten away with blatantly lying in their job ads. They advertise one thing and one salary and interview for something completely different and then can say oh unfortunately, no qualified Caymanian applied. I have sat in interviews (from the employers side) where the job description, salary, working hours etc all changed from candidate to candidate. Like it or not, a lot of businesses do prefer work permit holders as they are much easier to control and manipulate and certain nationalities dolook out for each other.
I also hope that during such audits the increasing issue with Temps who are overrunning this country is going to be sorted out. Too many companies have Temps sitting in positions for years which could have easily been taught to a High School leaver. The way things are going with the increasing number of Temps available, no High School leaver will ever have a chance to get their foot in the door and train in a junior position as it is obviously much easier for businesses not having to deal with the initial training and the increasing headcounts (Temps don't count towards headcount). Perhaps for each Temp employed the business must have a Caymanian trainee.
I also hope that during such audits it will be established whether the employer actually pays the required health and pension cost cause too many mom and pop shops seem to be doing as they please.
Listen to what you just said! Why are these school leavers not using the 'temp' system to gain experience and work into a position? During short periods of unemployment I would sometimes hire on as a temp with a company. When I impressed the employer with my drive and ambition, it became my new employment in 4 out of 5 cases.
See, the answer you seek may be in the very process you complained about! Today I am in a position to hire these people, which I frequently do when they show me that same drive and ambition. Talent and ambition will come out if given a chance. Several current CEO's of major hotel chains started out as bellmen. One current CFO of a major airline started out as a baggage handler. Think about that fact before you complain or criticize.
It seems every school leaver has the mistaken impression that they should be 'the boss' within 6 months of starting with a company! Where does this delusional attitude come from, and how can we correct it?
Next issue…
Many employers on this island have proven that they cannot be trusted! However, have no fear it is unlikely that any tangible form of enforcement will take place. This is all likely to be more bluster and hot air.
Many Caymanians have shown they can't be trusted to turn up to work, to stay and work the alloted hours or do the job properly. Namely most of the 2000 unemployable
and why not? Call a spade a spade. They are by=passing caymanians and have been doing so, unchallenged for years. The response needs to be direct, unambiguous and without apology and the great "boogie" man theory thrown about for ages: everything will burn. Rubbish.
Start with parking Tara and Winston at the NWDA to review the last 3 Friday's work permit renewals in the newspaper ? What are they waiting for?!?
What needs to happen is for Tara and Winston to have private sector companies of their own and to be offered the Caymanians who need employment to see if they are right for their companies.
Many years ago, Roy Bodden was in a car sales business and as a politician he got vexed with the fact that schools, with their foreign teachers, were suspending Caymanian students for dreadful behaviour, which he kept asking, every six months, parliamentary questions about. He felt the schools were to blame. Roy took on in his business a Bodden Town multiple suspended student to show how all you needed was a sympathetic "we are Caymanians attitude" to prove that the student just could not survive in the expat dominated schools. The guy did not last one week before Bodden knew he was a deadbeat but of course there was never an apology to the schools that Bodden had attacked. The guy has spent many years in Northward. He was, as we say in Cayman, "a terrorist" from age 10.
And by the way, if you doubt my story, i am prepared to give you the name of the Bodden Town deadbeat I am referring to but I doubt CNS would print it.
"…government’s inability to properly…"
This phrase from the article explains a lot.
Not much will change until the phrase reads "..government’s ability to properly …"
Please work on this without increasing the size and cost of government.
Al lvery nice, and whilst I agree that there may be some abuses of the system, in the proefssional offshore sector there are not. There also has to be some balance that if someone is forced to employ locally and that person does not work properly, or turn up, or refsues to do the job, he/she can be fired as long as everything is properly documented. That person should lose the right to any benefits.. I think that would send a balanced and fair message…
I believe the laws stipulate certain steps that need to be followed in order to fire an employee. It just seems that it has gotten easier not to renew someone's work permit rather than going through the appropriate steps of exiting someone from a contract. The constant attitude and believe that all Caymanians equal bad employees and all work permit holders equal good employees is rubbish and needs to be changed.
I have hired several Caymanians with no previoius experience in my line of work and have been able to train some very successfully and had to exit (1 verbal warning, second verbal warning, first written warning etc) others.
Perhaps it is time that a proper apprenticeship system is introduced to these Islands.
No, 11:16, as long as everything is proven to be fair and true. Anything can be documented, including outright fabrications towards an end of your choosing.
I don't want to hire the merely suitably qualified.
Yup. You want to hire expats whatever their qualifications. Time to give up the myth that most expats here are anything more than mediocre.
What you really mean 10:38 is that you dont want to hire Caymanian.
You will always move the goalpost to avoid hiring Caymanians.
As well as having Work Permit enforcers monitoring employers & ex-pat employees, can they also enforce all (not just expats) employees turning up on time, not leaving early, keeping to lunch hours, doing work, & prevent employees from stealing? These things are rampant in Cayman & some groups of people are worse than others…
Tues 09/13/2013 10:18
Check back for the last couple of years and see who have been in court most for theft – expats
Easily checked on the cause lists published for all to see, and easily proved NOT true.
That is the job of the line manager and needs to managed properly from day one and I am sure you are aware of that. I have experienced this problem with some, not with others. Just like when you are in the UK, US, Canada etc., you have some lemons amongst your apples. Please change the constant "Caymanians bad, Expats good employees song cause it isn't getting us anywhere.
I don't think the aim is to FORCE anyone to hire someon completely unsuitable for a job, however, the blatant lying in job ads and getting jobs for expat friends by discouraging qualified Caymanian candidates needs to stop.
What on earth are we going to do with 200 plus High School leavers every year plus the Caymanians who are returning from university? A lot of them are falling victim to the bad reputation that has been spread now for years, by not even getting the chance to come in for an interview.
Well said 14:58!!! Well said.
Hear hear! The blatant lying on job advertisements does not take a task force to see. Pul-ease!? They are written not for the job, but to the work permit holder's CV and it has to stop.
Yes, you are so right 10:18, some groups of people are much worse than others and you seem very well versed in their behaviours.
First order of business Alden is to dismantle the NWDA. This department is filled with incompetency and is run by a person who has no clue. In fact, save government some money and outsource this entire office as it is workable but it can't work being led by those who now run it. Once this is done, then and only then is when we might stand a chance getting work.
Hear, hear. NWDA: Lets look under the rug Ms Mary Rodrigues!? Let's not apply your similiar success rate with education over the past decade to employment.
The amount of permit waivers being stamped is shameful. How many interviews and placements do you count per month? The current rate is pathetic. Alden, fire these corporate butt kissing bureaucrats! Oh, I'm sorry… Civil servants who under-perform simply get reassigned?
The NWDA (formerly DER) are the main culprits of this immigration mess. They issue waiver letters at random so that permits can be approved through Immigration Dept. Get rid of those responsible in that department and maybe you will see more Caymanians getting employed. Ms. Rivers needs to urgently look into that department and give it a good overhauling. What they are doing is a form of corruption – as we know corruption comes in many forms! Please Ms. Rivers, I beg you again and again, do not use these same people as enforcers. Find people who are genuiely interested in getting Caymanians back to work – there are many good civil servants who can't be bought!!
Your so right. The current head (a former HR Manager) needs to answer and give CONCRETE information on the number of hires they have secured versus the number of waivers issued for the first 6 months of the year. Time to sh*t or get off the toilet
I am pretty disgusted by all of this. As an employer in hospitality, i try hard to employ local people. We are at about 30% not on permit. Pretty good for fast food I think. I really do not need a new bully coming in to review our staff, check permits, and force people on me that I would not have wash my car, let alone serve my customers.
And this is total foolishness about the TLEP… So give a few more years to stagger departures and plan replacements. HELLO!!! That is what this was for! Employers have had two years to recruit and train, employees have had two years to plan the next part of their lives.
The laziness of the employers not doing there jobs will now cause more problems for those of us that have tried to do ours.
Cant wait to see who is on this task force now that both Woody and Kenny have nice plum little well paying past-times.
With your attitude my son, you might be sorrounded by and with Inspectors.LLLOL
If what you say is true then you have nothing to worry about, but I suspect you have a lot to be worried about because it isn't.
I think their needs to be INCENTIVES as well to encourage employers. You shouldn't have ENFORCEMENT without INCENTIVES like one incentive could be reduction of work permit fees.
The incentive is you do not get deported and have your ill gotten profits seized if you comply wiyth the law. It is really that simple.
100% reduction of work permit fee = hire a Caymanian 🙂
Really??? Reduced work permit fees as an incentive to hire Caymanians? You are a real joker My 2 Cents
You miss the point. The writer was probably suggesting that an employer with 90% Caymanians should get permits cheaper than a competitor with no Caymanians.
0 work permit fees is cheaper still. Obviously, lower work permit fees is an incentive to hire more expats, not Caymanians.
LOL. How on earth would REDUCED woer permit fees be an incentive to hire Caymanians?
Well at least we can all be assessed for PR objectively now, rather than our employers choosing who gets to stay via the key employee and the office 'buddy' system.
09.45- the chip on your shoulder is showing. Guess by your tone that you will be off island soon. It is probably to do with your attitude. I will buy you a parachute so you don't hurt yourself when you fall off your high horse.
Hi how u doin? I wondered how long it would take! Try look in a mirror and make an honest objective assessment of yourself for a change.
Strikes me you are from the same firm as the original poster… and the truth hurts. What the person says is true employers are doing this. Its common practice in many firms to try for key status based on who they like, rather than who merits such an application. Employers shouldn’t be deciding who can apply for PR immigration should. The proposed change is only fair in the circumstances and the OP makes a very valid point.
Smart move! If you start dictating to employers who they can and cannot employ they might just decide it's easier to close down and move somewhere else. Is it really worth finding possibly a couple of dozen Caymanians jobs with a move that might put a couple of hundred out of work? In any event this will never be administered fairly because the work permit inspectors will, like too many CIG employees, not be impartial.
Its looking like employers are not going to have much say in who they can hire. I thought the last dictator was bad. Its a wrong move to start interfering in businesses and their staff like this.
You are not very bright are you? What country on earth allows the employment of foreign labour in preference to capable locals?
leave then please go and dont come back take else where wdf just go please
Then close down and go! If you and others like you 9:42 would have been more impartial towards Caymanians this conversation might not now be necessary. Caymanians are sick and tired of being marginalised in our own country. The minute our government speaks or seeks to do anything to our benefit you people start your usual threatening to leave and making disparaging comments about us. So go, good riddance. We will make it without the likes of you.
'Caymanians are sick and tired of being marginalised in our own country.' Don't blame others for what you bought on yourselves. If you don't turn up for work or turn up but then don't work, which is what happened with the last two Caymanians my boss employed, then still expect to get paid and scream when it doesn't happen you marginalise yourselves. If you get taken on into a reasonably well paid job then expect your employer to clothe and feed you, as happened to a friend of mine, you marginalise yourselves. If you spend all day texting and talking on your cell phone while using the office computer to send personal emails and watch You Tube, as happened at the last place I worked, you marginalise yourselves. The way to sort this out isn't to employ government enforcers it's to get rid of the entitlement culture and learn that jobs are not a birthright, they go to people who are willing and able to do them.