Editorial
Stability in the Job Market-
A Must for Local Companies
One of the daunting tasks the newly-appointedImmigration Board will have to deal with is the prevalent job-hoppingof many foreign-born employees who have come to live and workin the Cayman Islands on Work Permits.
Cayman Net News addressed this issue last year, following a numberof complaints received from locally-owned businesses -- particularlythose that require specialised skills that Caymanians have notyet learnt.
For as long as the Labour Law has been in place, it has been feltthat this law favours the employee, rather than being able tooperate on a level playing field with employers.
Perhaps, the time come has now come, whereby job candidates fromoverseas should be required to return to the place from whichthey came at the end of their permits (or contracts with employers),instead of using local and foreign-owned businesses to improveon the basic skills they brought here, so that they can go onto competitive local businesses, thereby interrupting the good,orderly growth of the entity which sponsored them here in thefirst place -- providing in many cases, airfare, accommodation,training and opportunity.
This is certainly the tradition in many other jurisdictions.
The present Government has pledged that there must be belt tightening,íto ensure that it can meet its commitments. This is a model thatmany private sector businesses will have to follow. In addition,it is a fact that there are at times outrageous salaries paidfor certain posts, thereby taking the cost of living way too high.
The situation regarding salaries also continues to drive up thecosts of doing business locally, which has earned Cayman the reputationas one of the most expensive places in the Caribbean to visitand do business.
Companies engaging in the poaching of staff from other organisationsmust also be held accountable.
Another vexing contributor to this situation is that when expatriateworkers are allowed to float between jobs, it does not allow forthe upward mobility of Caymanian workers who have every rightto training so that they can take their rightful places in thejob market.
Of course, there are situations in which unscrupulous employersuse the scare tactics of Work Permits to frighten some workersinto submission to remain in unfair working conditions.
Nevertheless, it has been proven time and time again, that thereal reason many are attracted to the Cayman Islands to work isbecause most foreign workers, especially those from cold weatherclimes love the warm weather conditions here and that they welcomethe opportunity to work in the Caribbean ... and to be paid forit too!î
The Cayman Islands is not like any other place in the world. Itoffers opportunities for people who will appreciate that it tooka unique, indigenous population to create the ambience and successstory that it is today.
With the importation of workers, there will no doubt be importationof ethics which are foreign, and in some cases are anathema tothe discipline and hard work of the indigenous population, whichhas created the good life that many have come here to enjoy.
Respect for our lifestyles, gentility, trust and work ethics hasbeen taken for granted for far too long.
To survive, local businesses, which have been built over decades,must be protected from the predatory practices of other foreign-ownedbusinesses -- particularly those who have the means to offer moremoney to foreign employees.
The poaching and solicitation of employees and change of workplacesby employees who have been brought here by other businesses, isan unfair practice which must be stopped by the Immigration Boardimmediately.
The good ship Cayman must have on board the balanced partnershipof hired hands and captains with one agenda: the success of thecompany and its employees, if we are to reach and maintain ourgoals for the security and peace we enjoy.