Bahamas Government Addresses Work Permit Issues

by Amanada Banks, Tax-News.com, London

29 October 2007

The immigration policies of the Bahamas will reflect the priority needs of the Bahamian people and the jurisdiction's economy, Minister of State for Immigration, Elma Campbell told the business community on Thursday.

Addressing the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s (BCOC) Luncheon Meeting, Campbell pointed out that while the Department of Immigration is committed to approving Work Permits for foreign persons to be engaged in the Bahamas, this will be done only as and when a suitably trained Bahamian is unavailable or unwilling to accept such employment.

She explained that the Department maintains the position that all avenues to engage a Bahamian through local and international advertisements and the Employment Exchange of the Department of Labour must be exhausted before approval is given for the employment of an expatriate worker.

“We will not, however, process permits for persons who entered the country as visitors or who have entered the country illegally,” Minister Campbell said.

According to Campbell, this means that when Immigration officials review work permits for foreign labour intended to fill gaps, officials want to ensure that to employ such persons will be in the best interest of the Bahamas.

Campbell urged businesspeople to assist in the long-term development of the country’s labour pool by establishing mentoring programmes and internships that would prepare young Bahamians to enter the employment market “fully prepared”.

She added that where an expatriate worker has specialized skills, a suitably qualified Bahamian should be identified to be an understudy to that worker. Such a skills transfer from expatriate worker to Bahamian would permit the Bahamian worker “to do the job in a given period of time", she argued.

"The Government considers this provision for the transfer of knowledge essential to meeting a critical need in the short to medium term while building capacity and human capital in The Bahamas in the long run and increasing investor confidence,” Ms. Campbell told the meeting.

“When we process applications for skilled labour or technical expertise required in the economy, but not available in the country, we will do so in a timely fashion. This is our commitment. What we want from you in return, is to work together with us to uphold the immigration laws of our country and to otherwise follow closely the prescribed processes so as to help us expedite your applications,” she added.

Campbell stated that the Government fully understands that the country has a small and limited labour market and has, over the decades, routinely supplemented its labour force with professionals and skilled labour from abroad, from police and prison officers to nurses, doctors and teachers.

Current major developments either in progress or about to begin in New Providence and the Family islands, Minister Campbell explained, signal further “draw-downs” on the labour force. The Department has become aware of this from the increasing requests for work permits in areas such as construction, gardening and landscaping and the hotel and banking industries, she observed.

“We understand that if labour is not readily available, it can put your operations and activities on hold and by extension, your investment or business in jeopardy,” Campbell noted. “Rest assured, that the Department of Immigration will continue to work diligently to meet the needs of the business community – whether Bahamian or foreign investor - for professional and skilled labour."

Campbell said the government is encouraged by the Department’s efforts to make the application process more efficient since May 2, 2007. She revealed that to ensure that work permits are processed on a timely basis, the Immigration Board is convened every week in New Providence, and usually twice per month in Grand Bahama.

“If applications are considered to be urgent and we are so advised and concur, then every effort is made to process such applications even more expeditiously,” Campbell stated.

The minister pointed out that amendments have been made to the Financial Services Act to enhance the country’s product and to make it more attractive to foreign investors. She said that all such legislation and incentives take into account the need for expatriate labour, and ensuring that expatriate labour is available without “disadvantaging the local population”.

“In contacts with the business community over the past several months, I have urged businesspersons to be creative in doing their part to help in the long-term development of our labour pool,” Campbell announced.

“I hope that Chamber members would give consideration to mentoring programmes, internships and other opportunities aimed at preparing young Bahamians to come into the labour market fully prepared to take up meaningful employment,” she added.

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