As more Caymanians becomejobless and the economy struggles to
Strenghten, Work Permit applications will be scrutinised closeras...
Immigration Tightens
Mrs. SherriBodden-Cowan
A weakeningjob market that is putting Caymanians on the at the risk of needinessand misunderstanding by business owners of employment regulationshave compelled the Immigration Board to issue advisories in thefirst step towards tightening recruitment practices.
Cayman Net News understands the Board isconcerned that as companies lay off staff and Caymanians expandtheir job hunt to areas not previously searched, they do not feelwelcomed to apply for some published vacancies based on the mannerin which these positions are advertised.
Additionally, it is believed that practicesof some employment agencies in the use of temporary work permitsmay be taking away jobs from nationals as temporary expatriateemployees graduate into full time positions without Caymaniansbeing afforded the opportunity to apply for such postings.
"The Immigration Board is concernedthat many employers are not properly complying with the requirementsconcerning the advertisement of positions in the local press,prior to submitting work permit applications," the Boardsaid in one of two releases issued through Government InformationService (GIS).
"The requirement to advertise appliesto all categories of employment except for domestic servants,self-employed persons, unskilled workers, food and beverage servers(full-time only) and ministers of religion.
Also, if the prospective employee is marriedto a Caymanian the position does not need to be advertised. Anemployer may, however, apply to the Immigration Board for permissionfor a waiver from the requirement to advertise prior to makinga work permit application," the release read.
Chairperson of the Board, Mrs Sherri Bodden-Cowan,explained to Cayman Net News that mere insertion of the term,'prior to applying for the renewal of a work permit' in a jobadvertisement creates a sense of bias that the vacancy is fora non-national and Caymanians are not inclined to apply thinkingthe employer already has thoughts set on someone else for thejob.
"Caymanians may now be interested wherethey traditionally were not interested before and the Board wantsto ensure that when vacancies are advertised Caymanians get firstconsideration," she said.
Publicising of reminders to employers comesat a time when not only are companies reducing the workforce forefficiency resulting in less job mobility, but also against abackdrop of speculation on government layoffs and retrenchmentin other public corporations like Cayman Airways. This means thatcompetition for jobs will be keener.
The Board is also reminding persons on workpermits that previous regular renewals are no guarantee for thefuture.
"The Immigration Law makes it clearthat a previous grant or renewal of a work permit shall not giverise to any right or expectation of any further grant or renewalof a work permit. This is to ensure that a qualified Caymanianis given priority over a non-Caymanian at the end of a work permit."
The second release of the board addresseduse of temporary work permits in a manner that could see personsmove into full time positions without nationals ever getting anopportunity to apply.
"companies that have used the servicesof a worker provided through a recruitment agency for more thanthe permitted six months should note that the Immigration Boardmay refuse the grant of a work permit should they wish to employthe worker directly in a permanent position," the releaseread.
Mrs Bodden-Cowan explained: "It is treated as a matter ofpriority in ensuring that Caymanians get an opportunity at thejob".
She said there is nothing sinister aboutthe Board issuing the reminders which represent two areas of itsconcern and that some applications had to be turned down becausethe stipulations were not met.
"This is the Board policy and if youabide by it, your applications stand a greater chance of success."
She said that in coming weeks the Boardwill be issuing further advisories on immigration regulationson employment practices. Two important matters in this regardto be addressed are employment of dependents and the geographicalareas outside of the Cayman Islands on which the Board has recruitmentpolicy.