Locals sidelined for jobs even after understudying expats - Hon Flax-Charles
During the Fourth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on June 3, 2019, Hon Wheatley—whose portfolio oversees the labour market—had pointed to economic growth as the reason for the increase in work permits in the territory.
However, while he described the numbers as ‘alarming’, one minister appears to be sharing a similar view by raising the issue of local companies side-lining locals from the local job market.
Locals side-lined– Hon Flax-Charles
According to a report on the deliberations of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) 2019, released on Friday, May 7, 2019, Junior Minister for Tourism Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) echoed concerns over the growing number of permits being issued.
The report states, “The Junior Minister for Tourism and Territorial Member expressed her concerns about Virgin Islanders understudying expatriates but the companies keep getting two and three work permits for individuals from overseas for the same job the locals were understudying for.”
Hon Flax-Charles further inquired if there were any laws in the Labour Code that protect locals in this matter. Hon Wheatley had told the HoA that in the first four months of 2019, the territory issued one thousand new work permits and renewed over one thousand.
Ms Janice I. F. Rymer, Labour Commissioner (LC), Labour Department (LC) in response to Hon Flax-Charles had indicated that there is protection in the Labour Code for Virgin Islanders, from losing jobs, however, for locals to still be side-lined it does not appear the protection in being enforced.
Understudying Expats work - Ms Rymer
With immigration reform still a hot topic, Virgin Islanders have been calling for greater protection of basic rights in the territory.
While no statistics were provided, the Labour Commissioner also indicated, even amidst the growing concern, that pairing locals with expats was effective in development planning. This scenario is also being practised in agencies like the controversial VI Recovery and Development Agency (RDA).
Mr Rymer also indicated that as part of tackling the issue of providing more jobs, the Labour Department has an 'Employment Service Unit' which will be renamed to Workforce Development Unit with a focus on job seekers and providing training for job seekers in areas of interest from potential employers.
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14 Responses to “Locals sidelined for jobs even after understudying expats - Hon Flax-Charles”
Politicians and other persons in authority must be more explicit when the word ["LOCAL"] is being or has been used to describe a certain class of person under the VI Constitution residing in the BVI locally.
But we all know that in layman terms, a " local" is a 'person born in the bvi from a mother or father or both parents who belong to the virgin islands. [AH BORN HERE] indigenous person.
The VI Constitution is the instrument for social guidance.
However, as a person who believe in the teachings of the VI Constitution re-enacted in 2007 when fundamental human rights and freedoms were written for the first time in the BVI and accordingly, we as a people must accept the written introductory clause in the VI Constitution, which states as follow:-
["Acknowledging that the society of the VI is based upon certain moral, spiritual and democratic values including a belief in God, the dignity of the human person, the freedom of the individual and respect for FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS and the rule of law"].How many people in the BVI respect each others fundamental human rights?
The only rights that a "local" has more than an expat, in the BVI is the right to vote in a general election and the right of [cannot be deported]
I expect politicians to look out for "locals"because its only "local and -belongers" who can vote:
But the VI Constitution declared that "every person IN the VI is protected by ALL the Fundamental Human Rights and freeedoms guaranteed under the constitution of 2007. The words "local" and "indiginous"are not written in the interpretation of the VI Constitution;therefore our elected reps should not used these words in the HOA to define [who belong to the VI]. Citizenship is now extended to great grand children of born bvislanders, born outside the BVI.
Every employer in the BVI must protect his/her business interest.
Therefore if a "local" and an expat apply for the same job and both have the same academic qualification etc,on principle and for quicker administrative facilitation, the "local" should get the job.[no work permit]
But if the "local" is not qualified but the expat is, shouldn't the employer employ the more qualified person?
The minister needs to produce the evidence to show that qualified "locals" were denied employment.
In such a case, that would be "discrimination" against the "local".