Hinds promises stricter work permit regulations to protect J’can jobs

WESTERN BUREAU:

Wavell Hinds, the opposition spokesman on labour and sports, has stated that the People’s National Party (PNP), if elected, will implement stricter regulations around the issuance of work permits to ensure that qualified Jamaicans are not overlooked in favour of foreign workers in the job market.

“We have heard the cries of our entertainers, ground transport operators, and other sectors that their livelihoods are being undermined by foreign workers brought in to fill positions that qualified Jamaican workers could have easily filled,” said Hinds, who was speaking at a recent PNP town hall in St James. “A PNP Government will enforce stricter regulations when issuing work permits. We will ensure that no work permit is granted unless it is first confirmed that no Jamaican is available to perform the task.”

Hinds says a rigorous vetting system would be established to safeguard local employment.

“We will put in place a rigorous mechanism to screen all work permit applications, ensuring that Jamaican workers are not being replaced by foreign workers,” said the former West Indies opening batsman.

Acknowledging the need for institutional support, Hinds stated that successful implementation would require a stronger Ministry of Labour. Current Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr has also indicated that the work permit regime is now under review.

PLANS FOR MINISTRY

“A PNP administration will ensure the Ministry of Labour is adequately resourced, with increased staffing and a stronger Industrial Disputes Tribunal. We are also exploring the establishment of a second panel in western Jamaica to expedite case resolution,” he said.

Hinds also highlighted sectors historically plagued with labour issues, such as tourism and business process outsourcing (BPO), noting that these areas would receive targeted attention. Plans are in motion to form joint industrial councils aimed at improving working conditions in these industries.

Stakeholders in the ground transportation segment of the tourism industry have long voiced concerns about losing income due to the influx of foreign workers, particularly after being displaced from hotel properties that serve as their operational hubs.

Last month, Astley Shakes, an industry veteran with over 50 years of service, was appointed interim leader of the newly formed Jamaica Tourism Ground Transportation Association (JTGTA). The association is expected to serve as the umbrella organisation for other transport groups.

While Shakes welcomed the formation of the JTGTA, calling it a “breath of fresh air” and a step in the right direction, he expressed ongoing frustration over the dominance of foreign tour companies in the sector.

At a recent meeting with the JTGTA, Senator Delano Seiveright, the state minister in the Ministry of Tourism, said the Government is taking steps to overhaul the ground transportation system within the tourism sector.

“At the heart of the meeting was the shared understanding that the sector plays a critical role in Jamaica’s tourism product, and our ground transportation operators are often the very first and last people visitors interact with,” said Seiveright.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com