GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

[Tuff Gong]

Ministry has ensured fair mix of foreign and local workers, says Kellier

Observer Reporter
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

LABOUR Minister Derrick Kellier says that while most work permits issued last year went to foreign workers recruited for large construction projects, he has ensured a "proper and fair" mix of local and overseas labour at the sites.

The ministry issued 6,195 work permits last year, a 34 per cent increase over 2004/2005. The largest number was issued in the last quarter of the fiscal year, January-March, with Asians accounting for 48.8 per cent.

The minister, in the meantime, has urged local workers on these sites not to vent their anger against the foreign workers as "the ministry is the competent authority to regulate the number of foreign and Jamaican workers on these projects", and has given full consideration to all the factors involved.
The work permits, Kellier said, were issued to meet the labour requirements of the large construction projects.

The construction projects, Kellier told Parliament in his contribution to the sectoral debate, included RIU Hotel in St Ann, Iberostar hotel development in Montego Bay, the North Coast Highway, Highway 2000 and the Cricket World Cup projects at Sabina Park and the greenfield site in Trelawny.

Ministry has ensured fair mix of foreign and local workers, says Kellier

[Blackstar*]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

Meanwhile so many Jamaicans are going abroad to do farmwork and clean hotels and casinos. What kind of government policy is this? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Hopyoneson]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

[ QUOTE ]
has urged local workers on these sites not to vent their anger against the foreign workers

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a slap in the face to Jamaicans, every nation workers protest when there jobs are getting replaced even in America, unions take to the street and picket, why should the Jamaican worker be meek and quiet....why? out of order, poor country like jamaica cant afford to be so understanding when people cannot find work.

[Blackstar*]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

What Mr Kellier did not say
Thursday, July 13, 2006


Going by our report in yesterday's edition of the Observer, Mr Derrick Kellier, the minister of labour, failed to provide a full and palatable explanation about the basis on which his ministry issues work permits for the construction industry.

On the surface, it might seem an anomaly that Jamaica is issuing work permits for construction workers, when we still have such a substantial number of unemployed persons. And it is well known that the construction sector is one of the few major areas that can absorb large numbers of unskilled labourers.

Mr Kellier informs us that the ministry last year issued 6,195 work permits, representing a significant 34 per cent increase over the 2004/2005 period. The bulk of that went to the construction industry, and to Asian workers (48.8 per cent), in particular.

The minister hoped to persuade Jamaican construction workers not to vent their anger against the foreign workers on building sites, asking them to recognise that it was the responsibility of the labour ministry to regulate the number of foreign and Jamaican workers on these projects.

What Mr Kellier doesn't seem to realise is that his explanation is not enough. Simply saying that it is the ministry's responsibility is far from adequate to persuade angry construction workers that foreign workers are not boxing bread out of their mouths.

He needs to go on to demonstrate to the local workers that Jamaica needs the foreigners, by showing that we are short of skills in particular areas, if in fact, that is the problem.
The Observer takes the broad view that where skills are in short supply here, it is necessary to import labour. Many of our own people work overseas because they are accepted by other countries.

More importantly, Jamaica has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve the free movement of labour as a high point of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. In this respect, the labour ministry is to be applauded for facilitating Jamaica putting our money where our mouth is, particularly where the free movement of media workers is concerned.

However, Mr Kellier needs to do something else. We already know that this government is allergic to public education, but it has no choice. The more people know, the better the decisions they take.

The minister needs to meet the construction workers half way. He must explain to them why they sometimes see more foreigners on a building site. What are the categories of workers being brought in? Is it because Jamaica is short of those skills? Or, are we being forced to accept these workers by the investors who are trying to provide employment for their own compatriots? Is it a way of getting around the cost of labour here?

If the concerns of the local workers are not taken on board, then we can, regrettably, expect more friction on construction sites. And that we can hardly afford, Mr Kellier.
Link

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

How many jamaicans has the opportunity to work in dominican Republic?
That country surely does not wish to be party to CSM. they are onmly intrested in caricom,because their attempt to benefit from special trade agreement with US and Latin America,does not reap the benefits they forsaw.
What building skills they Dominicans posess that Jamaicans do not??
Let us have a public hearing on this problem before it results in labour riots.

[Hopyoneson]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

[ QUOTE ]
More importantly, Jamaica has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve the free movement of labour as a high point of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. In this respect, the labour ministry is to be applauded for facilitating Jamaica putting our money where our mouth is,

[/ QUOTE ]

what a bunch of malarky, 48% went to asians and he is trying to spin it like they come from Caricom countries, who dem think they dealing with. As fo the DR, as Dr. Dudd mentioned the only time they want our help is to negotiate with Europe or US, they are more interested in alinging themselves with other spanish speaking countries.

[mangoskin]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

what the Bahamas did in the case of the Atlantis project, was to partner with the Bahamas Technical and Vocation Institute (govt owned), so that young unskilled Bahamians on the construction site got training as they worked, and were certified.
They still needed to import additional workers(and there were complaints too), but Bahamians were the majority of the workers..

[mangoskin]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

any half-way decent govt., before it signs the Memorandums of Understanding, gives approvals etc., to investors should know that it should do a needs assessment survey of the workforce skills, infrastructure and support that a major development would need.
For example, when the govt signed the deal for the upscale Four Seasons Emerald Bay resort to be constructed on the island of Exuma, Bahamas, the govt built a new police station, clinic & mini hospital, utilities too, expanded the schools, did low cost housing and is extending the airport there...because of course the population & economy will expand with additional workers & their families moving there..
it's so obvious, you have to plan for a big project because it will impact so many areas...you dont need a university degree or even CXC to know this

[Morpheous]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

[ QUOTE ]
what the Bahamas did in the case of the Atlantis project, was to partner with the Bahamas Technical and Vocation Institute (govt owned), so that young unskilled Bahamians on the construction site got training as they worked, and were certified.
They still needed to import additional workers(and there were complaints too), but Bahamians were the majority of the workers..

[/ QUOTE ]
I was about to mention that the GOJ should have a system in place where unskilled/uncertified Jamaican workers get the opportunity and work experience to work on these large projects as trainees - (including those studying in that field academically)

Yes such projects need a level of skilled/certified workers i.e electricians, plumbers etc. as well a supervising architect. The level of skilled overseas workers needed are not that many. How many electricians, architects, plumbers one needs for large projects? 10, 30, 50, 100 ??

1. Couldn't less skilled working be used on sight and utilise the large pool of unskilled workers under some kind of supervision - (effectively training them)

2. As the process in #1 becomes more and more common less and less foreign skilled workers would be needed and more and more skilled workers locally would take their place.

3. Aren't any good architects, plumbers and electricians in Jamaica anyway. What the hell is going on here. I see some buildings in Jamaica that is designed by local architects and they challenge the very laws of physics a tell yuh.

Can anybody tell me what sector of the building construction trade these foreign skilled workers came from. i.e. architects, designers, electricians, brick -(block) layers etc?

[Blackstar*]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

[ QUOTE ]
Can anybody tell me what sector of the building construction trade these foreign skilled workers came from. i.e. architects, designers, electricians, brick -(block) layers etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

First off, do the foreign workers have *any* building skills at all? I suspect the scenario below is taking place in JA...

[ QUOTE ]
Unions are angry that the Federal Government recently approved visas for approximately 200 temporary workers from China to work at an abattoir in Murray Bridge, South Australia despite the fact that there is significant unemployment in the area.

Another major concern for unions are reports that the Chinese workers are working excessively long hours and are being paid less than the abattoir's local workers. Source

[/ QUOTE ]

Another article on how Chinese workers have more skills than local labourers. It all sounds distressingly familiar.

ETA and completely OT: I'm "glad" to see JA isn't the only country with inept elected officials. That Australian senator would do well to keep her big trap shut. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[mangoskin]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

yes, Blackstar, the Australians complained about 200 workers - a drop in the bucket in the scheme of things in that Australia is listed as the third best country in the world to live in.. (the US only comes in at #10)www.hdr.undp.org

ja is on life support in comparison, it's no comfort to me to know Australia has the same issues. JA cannot afford any govt incompetance at all, which is why some younger jamaicans are fed up with both the jlp & pnp, it's so depressing..(ja is #98 on the list)

[Tuff Gong]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout


The GOJ is merely using the worker permit regime to fatten their coffers they have no regard for Jamaican workers. The have a HEART Training Programme that offers to certify workers in various skills, one isn't sure of its capacity. Even so why would anyone want to sanction the import of common labourers in a country where thousands are unemployed?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout


'We have too many foreign workers'
published: Sunday | July 23, 2006

Dionne Rose, Parliamentary Reporter

OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on Labour Ruddy Spencer has dismissed the Government's claim there were not enough locally-trained workers to fill job vacancies on some construction sites in the hotel industry.

Mr. Spencer, who was making his contribution to the 2006/2007 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Wednesday, rejected the explanation provided earlier this month by Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick Kellier, "We are very concerned in what appears to be the 'Asianisation' of the Jamaican labour force, especially on construction sites, both public and private," noted Spencer.

The Opposition Spokesman on Labour said there was an overwhelming presence of foreign workers on several construction projects, which he said was creating dissatisfaction among Jamaican workers.

"The minister was asked for an explanation and has stated that there were not enough certified workers in Jamaica. Let me destroy that lie. I want to state today this is absolute nonsense, rubbish! Ask any local contractors and they will tell you that this is arrant nonsense!" said Spencer.

He made reference to the Jamalco construction project, which he said would have needed skilled workers but arranged with HEART/NTA to source and train enough certified workers in Jamaica.

"Jamalco has not imported one foreign worker because all the workers are available and those who are available have been given some measure of employment," he said.

Mr. Spencer also questioned the accuracy of data provided by the Labour Minister regarding the number of work permits granted by the ministry.

He said the minister needed to explain to the country why 228 applications for work permits were granted in elementary occupation (unskilled occupations).

"We are issuing work permits to foreigners to do the jobs that Jamaicans can do with our elaborate unemployment rate. It is a crying disgrace that any Government could allow this to happen," he said

'We have too many foreign workers'

[Blackstar*]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Spencer also questioned the accuracy of data provided by the Labour Minister regarding the number of work permits granted by the ministry.

He said the minister needed to explain to the country why 228 applications for work permits were granted in elementary occupation (unskilled occupations).

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be very interested to hear the answer to that question too. The same thing I said upthread.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: GOJ-baxing food outta Jamaicans mout