Outlining the latest element of the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration, Labour and Immigration Minister Shane Gibson on Wednesday disclosed that under a new immigration policy certain workers will not be able to renew their work permits once they expire.
“What we decided to do is that if anyone got their work permit in 2004 or 2005 we would not renew those permits (if they came here illegally),” said Mr. Gibson.
“We have lots of immigrants in The Bahamas already so why should we continue to legitimise the stay of persons who came here illegally? Our position is that you came here illegally and you got your work permit after being in The Bahamas illegally in 2004 or 2005 so we will not be renewing those permits.”
Minister Gibson said if Bahamian employers or persons residing in The Bahamas wish to have non-Bahamian workers who secured work permits improperly after 2003 leave the country and then reapply properly for a work permit they would be free to do so.
Reaffirming that he would not be distracted in his efforts to address the illegal immigration problem, the minister indicated that the government had put on hold the proposal to establish labour offices in Haiti or any country outside of The Bahamas.
“Thatﾒs not necessary right now,” he said.
“Haitians donﾒt apply for work permits. Peruvians donﾒt apply for work permits. Philipinos donﾒt apply for work permits. Bahamians or residents in The Bahamas apply for work permits and then once theyﾒre approved you bring the people in so we donﾒt need offices in those places because itﾒs the person living in The Bahamas who applies for the work permit.”
Mr. Gibson, a former union president, also took the opportunity to respond to recent concerns expressed by trade union leaders that all is not well within the labour movement.
On Tuesday, the presidents of the National Congress of Trade Unions and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress, Pat Bain and Obie Ferguson, cited worries that Bahamian workers are not benefiting fully from the economic development ongoing in the country and that the labour environment generally is not favourable for workers.
Minister Gibson, however, said his impression was that the labour movement and government were enjoying a good relationship.
He added that he had not received any written or informal complaint from leaders of the trade union movement.
“There is absolutely no question in my mind that when you look at the number of jobs being created right now that there are a lot of opportunities for people,” said Mr. Gibson.
“I think one of the major problems that we are having is that persons are not properly preparing themselves to take advantage of these opportunities and that is why we are putting much more concentration on the area of training at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.”
Responding to concerns expressed by leaders of the trade union movement about the spate of industrial unrest in the country over the last several months resulting from stalled contract talks, the inability to conclude various industrial agreements and the failure of some groups to secure recognition as an authorised bargaining agent, Mr. Gibson said he was satisfied that negotiators for the government were doing a good job to conclude various outstanding industrial agreements.
“We have to take these things in their proper context,” he said.
“When we look at the number of agreements that have been concluded compared with those that havenﾒt been concluded there is absolutely no comparison. I think there are a couple of agreements that are outstanding right now, but negotiations are like that, you have to give and take. So when you find one side, whether itﾒs the management or union, taking a hard line position then of course negotiations tend to be drawn out a bit more.”
Reporting on the progress of talks between the Airport, Airline and Allied Workers Union (AAAWU) and Bahamasair, the Labour and Immigration Minister said he met with the union last Saturday and airline management on Monday.
He further indicated that the parties met on Tuesday and Wednesday and, with the assistance of a negotiator from the Ministry of Labour, continued efforts to conclude an agreement.
The Bahama Journal
