All stipend recipients must register with WORC

| 05/08/2021 | 116 Comments
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan at Wednesday’s press briefing

(CNS): Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has announced a mandatory requirement for everyone receiving the tourism stipend to register by 16 August on the government job portal, JobsCayman, operated by Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC). This is so that tourism workers can be matched to the jobs that will be rolled out over the coming months as Cayman goes through its border reopening phase.

The registration is mandatory for everyone on the assistance programme, and although the minister fell short of saying the cash would not be paid to those who don’t register, he stressed that government needed to know who had been displaced, who was available and what skills they have in order to follow through on its plan to put Caymanians first in the sector and to ensure the industry has the manpower it needs for reopening,.

Bryan said the PACT Government was committed to putting local workers first as tourism employers begin their recruitment drives to remobilize the sector’s workforce. Even the self-employed or those still in their old jobs, albeit on reduced hours or waiting to be re-hired, and not necessarily looking for a new job are still being mandated to register with WORC so that government can count heads and match the jobless to jobs as they re-emerge.

He also revealed that there will be a team at WORC dedicated to placing those on stipends back into the tourism jobs.

Working in partnership with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) and WORC, Bryan said the tourism ministry was focused on the employment of Caymanians as the jurisdiction reopens and increasing career development for local workers in the sector. The results of the recent tourism survey about the tourism workforce on stipends and the survey from CITA of what jobs employers have will both be used to create a plan that will enable WORC to act as the central human resource unit to match around 1,500 jobs.

CITA President Marc Langevin said the organisation was committed to the ‘Cayman first’ approach, noting that there would likely be difficulties for all employers over the coming months in recruiting staff from overseas. He said the tourism sector viewed WORC as the ideal central body and the platform for human capital going forward.

Bryan said the first main goal was to get 100% of displaced tourism workers registered with WORC, and the second was to get those workers who are willing and able returned to full employment in tourism. The third goal was to ensure that all graduates from the School of Hospitality, Ministry of Tourism scholars and other university graduates with tourism related degrees are given the opportunity for jobs in the local tourism industry.

“These three I refuse to fail on,” Bryan said. Urging those people who are getting the stipend to register before Monday, 16 August, he said that the government wants to make tourism work for everyone, and this was just the beginning of a new approach to roll out the PACT policy of putting local people back at the centre of the industry.

“Without your participation, this plan won’t work,” he said. “We in the government are doing all that we can to create the pathways… to get you back to gainful employment as we move closer to the opening of our borders.”

Bryan said he did not want to stop the payment of stipends to those receiving them because they did not register, as the goal was not to prevent people from getting assistance but to understand the labour market.

“This exercise is about understanding the labour market for our people, so it is mandatory,” he said. He added that he hoped people would do this to help government help them rather than them being penalized, given the work that will be required to remobilize and fill the more than 1,500 jobs that will be immediately available.

He said it was about collecting the data and analysing which stipend recipients will be earning again once the borders open to help government understand who will still need its help and who will not. Therefore, even owners who expect to reopen their businesses and relaunch their services are asked to register.

For people who are not comfortable or don’t have access to computer, WORC is going on the road starting in East End tomorrow, Friday. Next week’s schedule will be released shortly. People will also be able to register at the WORC offices in Mary Street.

See the full press briefing on CIGTV below:


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Category: Jobs, Local News, Politics

Comments (116)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Check West Bay Public beach. You will find about 30 bums there all day long.

  2. Anonymous says:

    How about putting some effort into the education system to give these kids a fighting chance?

    • Anonymous says:

      You understand government spends more per student than it costs to send a kid to CIS? Money is not the problem.

      • Anonymous says:

        I didn’t mean throw money at the educations system. I’m fully aware that it’s a bottomless pit. It’s some strategic thinking and some critical friends we need. And a bit of input from the parents.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Bunch of debates collecting public money. Get a job

    • Anonymous says:

      Deadbeats

      • Anonymous says:

        Deadbeats? Maybe you should check your father’s testicles for deadbeats dumbass,
        This is not free money we’re getting, you seem to forget that covid has us displaced.
        This stipend doesn’t even clear the amount some of us were making before covid but what I come to realize is that most of you speaking negative are just band minded people who have nothing else better to do with your time
        Please for the sake of this world I beg you not to reproduce because it’s people like you that causes the world to be what it is today, POS.

        • Anonymous says:

          4:41 pm, its free money, you are not working for it. People like you is what makes third world countries, by being lazy and wants other people to give you. If you are young and strong adult get a job, its plenty jobs in construction.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Businesses are desperate for compliance people right now. If you have relevant experience (actual compliance experience) and you can’t get a junior or trainee role somewhere, you should sit down and think about why that is. I interview people for compliance roles all the time. Anyone keen but with little experience who asks for a reasonable salary (i.e. not 80K or 100K a year) should have little difficulty finding a job. AML may not be rocket science but you can’t learn it in a two day course. Like any other professional services job you need the same set of skills: decent work ethic, reading comprehension, writing and communication skills, and common sense. You also have to understand how legal entities work: companies, partnerships, trusts etc
    Unfortunately it’s not that easy to find people who meet these criteria.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wonder who you work for as some companies do not even acknowledge application even with several years of experience, age discrimination still exists.

      • Anonymous says:

        Of course it does. So do other kinds of discrimination. Maples wont talk to every lawyer that applies and EY won’t talk to every accountant. There are many businesses on this island large and small. I hope you are applying to many. But don’t take my word for it. Speak to one or the recruiting companies. They seem to be posting many roles.

  5. Anonymous says:

    OK. I tried to assist a stipend recipient to register on WORC website and there’s no portal! Forms for everything but to register of a job!!

    As usual, Government process is assbackwards!!

  6. Anonymous says:

    “putting local people back at the centre of the industry.”
    How about putting some effort into getting Caymanians to the centre of all the other industries and not just concentrating on the tourism industry?

    • Anon says:

      That starts with education. It’s a 20 year educational thing, they need to fix the schools to start that

    • Anonymous says:

      5:15, Great idea but we need to upgrade our public education system before we can do that.

    • Real Caymanian says:

      I’d rather take shelter under a grape tree while living off the ocean than work in tourism.

  7. Anonymous says:

    This is a good thing that they are trying to help these workers get employment, as unfortunately the longer they keep collecting money for doing nothing, the longer they will NOT want to go back to work!

  8. Anonymous says:

    “Goooooddddd mawniinnn Saaannnddyyy” OMG man try and at least pretend to sound like a Government Minister. The schmooze fest really sickened me.

  9. Rick says:

    “These three I refuse to fail on.” I voted for you before we had one man one vote, but now I wish I was in GT to vote for you again. That quote demands support from all meaningful Caymanians.

    • Anonymous says:

      well good luck with that, given that so far you haven’t manged to get more than 33% of them to register, especially since you haven’t made it mandatory to receive the stipend, and by offering $1500 a month to former tourism sector workers without any means test or limits on alternative employment, you have actually provided a $1500 per month disincentive for people to either register or go back into the industry. Bizarre – a politician committing to objectives whilst using his limited powers to actually create disincentives for people to co-operate with his declared policy goals.

  10. Anonymous says:

    And just like that we learned from the survey that that majority of stipend recipients aren’t vaccinated. Hey CIG, you want to get your vax rate up? Require proof of vaccine for people to keep on getting their free money!

    Oh yeah, and where was the Premier?! Starting to look like Kenny’s the Premier, something that should terrify ALL of us!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      $5m a month at $1500 per head and 2/3rds vaccinated thats 1100 people – more than the government is currently vaccinating in a month. But the chance of kenny saying you have to be vaxed to get government funds – well about the same as us achieving 80% by September 9.

      • Anonymous says:

        How do you know 2/3 of the people are vaxxed? Stop assuming people are lazy sh*ts like yourself.

        • Anonymous says:

          Because they said so in the briefing? Because it was one of the questions in the survey? Talking of lazy sh&ts, try listening to the briefing before you run your mouth. Just because you don’t like the truth eh?

    • Anonymous says:

      All recipients of govt. money , Stipend or NAU handouts, should be drug tested.

    • Anonymous says:

      Not just the Premier was missing, where was the Minister for Labour MP Saunders ???

  11. Anonymous says:

    this scheme must be audited asap…

  12. Anonymous says:

    Anybody else wondering where the Premier was? Bryan did the best he could, but you have to know that given our current environment a press conference about tourism, his ministry, is going to veer into cross sections such as vaccines, not his ministry, WORC, not his ministry, etc.

    • Anonymous says:

      All you PPM supporters, can you tell us residents of Red Bay (his constituency)where former Premier Alden is at? He never dis anything before when he was Premier in our district and now that he is just a plain old MLA, he still has not shown up. That park he started is half done, overgrown with weeds and just a plain mess. Roads he paved have not been marked out. I did not vote for him but he still is the man for Red Bay so how about getting on with things old buddy? Time to let the election go now or better yet just resign! I am sure the Dart organization would give you a nice job.

      • Anonymous says:

        The second time I have seen this comment posted on CNS – You clearly have a chip on your shoulder – failed candidate maybe???

    • Anonymous says:

      I am happy that the entire government is not sitting down to press conferences every week …. Perhaps they are attending to work instead?

  13. Anonymous says:

    Wonder if Kenneth Bryan has had the vaccination? I think we should be told. And all the MPS for that matter.

    CNS: Yes, he was among those PACT members who got their first shot in May.

  14. Anonymous says:

    very simple.
    anybody recieving money from government should be means tested.
    end of story.

  15. Anonymous says:

    At $1500 a month thats over $9 an hour – well in excess of minimum wage – for doing absolutely nothing, or even better, as a supplement to your other job (51% said they have at least part time employment). Hell, 13% of the stipend receivers are in full time employment, including people working directly for government.

    And only 33% of the stipend receivers have even registered with WORC. And you can see why – with the stipend paying more than the lower paid tourism jobs anyway, why would you bother?

    I get that some people are in financial hardship, and its right to help them. But can we focus the money on those that actually are in financial hardship, and making a conscious effort to get out of it – even something as undemanding as registering with WORC – than just spray the money around anyone who once had tourism related job?

  16. Anonymous says:

    I am curious about so many things.

    When did Marc become a member of the government? I do not remember his campaign. Why does he get so much time to smirk at us plebs in the local advertorial known as the Compass. Now I have to witness his condescension live and in full colour at government press briefings?

    I am also curious why no one asked Marc about the hundreds of Ritz jobs advertised to international applicants on sites such as this: https://www.jobmonkeyjobs.com/cayman-islands

    I can only encourage Caymanians to check the hundreds of international job sites that local companies use to solicit foreign workers.

    I am also curious whether these online job adverts will be declared on the work permit applications as required by Regulation 4(2) of the Immigration (Transition) (Work Permit) Regulations, 2020:

    4(2) Where, in addition to complying with section 58(2) of the Law, an employer or prospective employer also advertises a job locally or overseas in a written or online newspaper or other media —
    (a) the content of the advertisement used for that purpose shall be identical in substance to that which was approved for registering the job on JobsCayman;
    (b) the advertisements shall be published simultaneously with the registering of the job on JobsCayman; and
    (c) the employer or prospective employer shall submit copies of all such advertisements if the employer or prospective employer subsequently applies for a work permit for that job.

    I am also curious why Chris Saunders was not there to answer to the astonishing catastrophe of JobsCayman and to detail what his Ministry plans to do in face of the system malfunctions, as well as the failures of the WORC staff who should be assisting the public with registering on the system.

    Why doesn’t WORC implement a similar system to the one used in Bermuda where all roles are advertised publicly on the Bermuda Jobs Board and each role is linked to the work permit? This allows Bermudians to prepare years in advance to take over positions held by work permit holders: https://www.bermudajobboard.bm/

    PACT will be the worse we have ever seen.

  17. Anonymous says:

    I am completely in favor of the stipend for tourism workers who are out of work because of the shutdown and unable to find jobs. I am also completely against giving $1500 per month stipends to people already getting thousands per month just because they used to have a tourism related job. That is insane.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Government is in effect paying quite a few people not to get vaccinated. Why are people with full time jobs getting a stipend on top. Under those conditions those people and their families have an enormous incentive to keep everything locked down.

    • Anonymous says:

      Please remember that some people have managed to get full time jobs at a pay greatly reduced compared to their tourism business income, and still need the help

  19. I fully support this says:

    @Hon. Kenneth Bryan
    Good initiative.

    @Hon. Chris Saunders:
    I encourage you to spearhead a WORC job fair where employers interview potential candidates on the spot and hire people within five business days. WORC has 70 pages of jobs ranging from cleaners to bank managers.

    @WORC:
    If you are unable to stop the incessant granting of work permits for entry level jobs, then tell your Minister. Let him take the Immigration board to task.

    @unemployed Caymanians:
    Honestly, if you do not want to be gainfully employed, do not waste WORC’s time and resources by enlisting there. You only make the rest of us Caymanians look “wutless”

    @employers
    Greed is killing you all. If you list a job with WORC, offer fair wages in line with the work—have a conscience. How can we all contribute to the economy if we only earn enough to pay rent, food and CUC from month to month? Seriously!

  20. J. A. Roy Bodden says:

    The Ritz Carlton to hire Caymanians … Good luck , but don’t be fooled . The last time I read it the old adage said , ” The leopard cannot change his spots “.

    We have been fed this same old drivel since our Saviour was a boy in the Carpenter’s shop. Why should we believe it will be any different this time around ?

    • Anonymous says:

      Seriously, Roy, you of all people shouldn’t be talking from a place of ignorance. Outside of some of the beach staff and housekeeping staff who are Caymanians, do you have any idea how many educated Caymanians have used the Ritz Carlton over the years as a jump-off point to better paying and less demanding jobs in the public and private sector here? Now, if you want to talk about the Ritz work culture and why Caymanians really don’t want to work there, then that’s a different story. Listen, working in the hospitality industry isn’t a just a normal job. It’s more of a calling for people who enjoy making other people happy with good service. It’s not very conducive to family life and the pay, especially early in a career, isn’t great. But if someone does make a career of it and wants to use it as a way of seeing the world, then it can have some great perks and be very rewarding. Many of the foreign workers at the Ritz use this experience as a jumping off point to move on to bigger and better things elsewhere. For a Caymanian who has no intention of leaving the homeland, then the benefits of a career in hospitality aren’t as attractive. I’m really sick of hearing the myth that the hospitality industry, including restaurants, won’t hire Caymanians. Any Caymanian who actually wants a job in the hospitality industry here can get one, but most Caymanians – myself included – would never want one.

      • Anonymous says:

        How many?
        (“how many educated Caymanians have used the Ritz Carlton over the years as a jump-off point to better paying and less demanding jobs in the public and private sector here?”)

        I know some who saw it as a detour. But as a jumping off point? How many?

    • Anonymous says:

      But it’s well known that suitable CAymanians hardly ever apply for hotel jobs so what are they supposed to do?

      • Anonymous says:

        Do you think that might be anything to do with the experiences of those that tried before them?

        • Anon says:

          No I don’t. I think they are not as qualified or capable as the expats who apply. I blame the government and the education system,

          • Anonymous says:

            Bullshit. We are talking about serving drinks and cleaning tables. Smiling and opening doors. Fetching and guiding and making people feel special. It ain’t rocket science and whatever shortcomings exist in our education system are not to blame for the fact that Caymanians are underrepresented in tourism.

            • Anonymous says:

              Make the hotels pay the minimum wages of 6 $ p h. Plus tips, Not 4.50. That they pay, tips are not from the Hotels. its from the Guest’s, so the Hotels are not paying the mininium wages

  21. Anonymous says:

    If they cant find a job they should at least pick up trash in public areas or something. Paying people to do absolutely nothing creates weird unintended consequences…

  22. Anonymous says:

    Stipend should be needs based.

    • Anonymous says:

      True, but before the elections when people went to politicians asking for money to pay their utilities, the politicians handed it over without question. Obviously the “woters” only considered that as a down payment, and now they are asking for the rest.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Why take the jab? This explains why so many are content with the way things are. Those of us who actually have to work and provide for others, without any freebies or freedoms, are the ones who’ve really struggled!

  24. Well done! says:

    Bingo! That’s the way to do it. I would go as far as suggesting that some people can be helped for long enough to complete training in line with their natural aptitude’s which would then allow WORC to successfully place them in a job. We cannot just help people indefinitely.

  25. Anonymous says:

    About time!

  26. Blown Away says:

    I cannot believe Kenneth Bryan sat there next to CITA President Marc Langevin and listened to him talk crap about wanting to hire Caymananians and how they employ Caymanians (basically being very generous with the truth) and Kenneth did not say a word to correct the man. Kenneth knows the issues unless he really wasn’t paying attention to what his constituents were telling him!!! OMG Kenneth, it really didn’t take you long to jump on the wrong side – did it? Why oh why would you invite that man to join you at your press conference? Hasn’t he done enough ?

    • Anonymous says:

      Why do you think the tourism industry doesn’t hire Caymanians given it would otherwise save the work permit fee?

      • Anonymous says:

        So we are back to the old they are lazy and don’t want to work argument? It’s cheap labour plain and simple ok..get that into your brain.

        1. It’s more than salary – Most Caymanians have families so the health insurance contribution is higher.
        2. There is an obligation to train Caymanians – more cost.
        3. Most Caymanians cannot survive on $6/hour…but a person who shares a house with six others who stockpile food etc and rent beds (yes they rent beds by the hour to sleep) can survive on $6/hour.
        4. Most of these businesses detest the Caymanian accent and some detest the Caymanian culture, they see them as lowly and beneath their standards, they basically want to ensure it is erased from their business culture so they can import Eastern Europeans and the like.
        5. It’s about control, when you have someone on a permit their livelihood depends on you and they are less likely to complain when abused (forced to work more than the maximum hours mandated by the labour law) etc.

        Comments like yours tell me a little about your mindset, you grabbed at the one simple justification that you could use without even thinking seriously about what you were actually saying and how nonsensical it actually was.

        PS. I am a White Expat who has worked in the industry so don’t tell me I do not know what I am talking about. I am seriously considering spilling the beans on so many of my counterparts in Tourism right now, the stories I could tell…

        • Anonymous says:

          Please! please!! Spill the beans. Put all the dirty laundry out to dry.

        • Anonymous says:

          I merely asked an honest question to see what people in the industry felt. If you can tell my mindset from those few words, then you’re a clairvoyant and wasted on an internet message board.

          Your claim that I am saying something in particular in my post beyond the above also seems to require an ability to read beyond the text in a way that I can only see as truly impressive.

          Essentially your items 1, 2, 3, and 5 boil down to: “Caymanians don’t want the job because it doesn’t pay enough or is that overly demanding”.

          That’s fine, and we can have a discussion about whether or not the wages should be increased or other protections put in place by legislation, but it is NOT an example of employers picking foreigners over Caymanians cause of innate prejudice. It is an example of the local workforce self selecting out of the workforce.

          Ultimately the tourism industry here is, in terms of hours and pay,on par with or better than comparable positions elsewhere. We can create a different standard here if we think that’s wise, but let’s not pretend that isn’t the reality of the suggestion.

          Your claim that people “detest” Caymanians is an interesting one, particular in light of the readiness to employ Jamaicans, Kenyans, Nepalese, Indians, etc. Are you honestly saying that employers love such a multicultural variety, but have a specific and special hatred for Caymanian culture and the local lilt? I simply don’t believe it.

          The colour of your skin or you immigration status is irrelevant. Not sure why you feel the need to raise it.

        • Anonymous says:

          Why don’t you spill the beans then? If people are abusing workers or circumventing the law they should be stopped. Make an anonymous call to WORC. If they choose not to investigate it’s on them.

          Also let’s be clear that although some do, most jobs do not pay $6 an hour. I know many expat and Caymanian servers and bartenders who make $50K CI a year and up.

          Of the points you made above the most relevant one is number 5 (I’m not denying that 1-4 are sometimes true). Many Caymanians do not want to work the long shifts that these bartenders and servers work.

    • I want to know says:

      I recently visited a new restaurant in Queen’s Court and I did not see a single generational Caymanian-not even filling my water glass. My question is: who grants work permits and on what basis. We need to stop blaming employers (who have a business plan and profit projections) and start addressing the REAL issue here. Why are work permits for these kinds of jobs still being approved?!

      • Anonymous says:

        Because you would struggle to find a generational Caymanian prepared to fill a water glass for minimum wage anyway?

      • Anonymous says:

        Having spoke to many employers in this space (and other comparable industries like landscaping) most of them would be very happy to hire Caymanians but simply cannot find any who are interested in the role. For many, if WPs are not granted, the roles simply go unfilled.

        They could of course then pay double or triple the pay to try and tempt Caymanians, but given the cost of living here already, are you happy to endure the inflationary impact and the failed businesses?

        It’s simply not as simple as many try to make out.

    • Anonymous says:

      I know Marc has his pros and cons but at the end of the day the guy knows what he’s talking about. He’s been in the industry for his entire career and very close to the top of it for a very very long time. Kenneth did some horse trading to become minister and has no idea what he’s talking about.

      The Ritz Carlton is not some minor league amateur hour. It is the most recognizable luxury hotel brand in the world. I think it is the third most recognized luxury brand of any market in the world, after LV and BMW or something like that. No five-star hotel just hires a bunch of first timers who don’t know what they’re doing yet. You have to put in the work and move up, and usually start at a lower level property.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Funny how the new CITA boss who is general manager of the Ritz wants to get Caymanians back to work but the Ritz barely hires Caymanians. They would rather hire a foreigner any day then try to train and hire a Caymanian.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Ritz hires way more Caymanians than you think. They just abide by pretty typical confidentiality rules and don’t disclose the immigration status of their employees to the public. That’s the way it’s supposed to be BTW. Immigration status and quotas is not something to be weaponized by the entitled for their own selfish gains.

      • Anonymous says:

        How many? Not asking for names just numbers… By the way, I emailed an FOI to Worc for the number will share it with you when received …

        • Anonymous says:

          I’m not giving you the number because it’s none of anyone’s business. If WORC actually provides you with that data I’d love to see it. Let’s place some guesses right now. Over/under what percentage of Caymanians

          • Anonymous says:

            It depends on who is counted as Caymanian. Everyone with a Cayman passport? Everyone born here? Everyone married to a Permanennt Resident? Everyone with Permanent Residence? Everyone who says they are Caymanian?

            Or just Caymanians?

            And even then, were they Caymanian when first hired?

  28. Anonymous says:

    Already registered. Just need a salary that can support a family in Cayman

    • Anonymous says:

      Because you would rather be unemployed than working at a wage you think beneath you, but which employers simply dont offer for that job? Got it.

      • Anonymous says:

        You just don’t get it do you??? I have lost nearly everything to closure of business because of closed borders – that is obviously not enough for your hard heart. I lost my income overnight to save YOU. The SAME bills need to be paid – health insurance, housing, utilities, schooling, food etc. So you have decided that what my family has been through is NOT yet enough ….. we need to be sentenced forever to losing more because I want to work for a wage that will pay these bills in full??? Who said I wasn’t already trying to bring in what I can? Honestly, people like you are cruel, nasty and obviously have not suffered through this.

    • Anonymous says:

      What kind of job are you looking for? Maybe someone reading this can help. You’d have more luck here with a reader with a business who needs people than going through some useless government program.

  29. Must be nice says:

    At the time I am reading this, 21% indicate they are bored. Must be nice to not worry about paying CUC or buying uniforms or, or, or …

  30. Anonymous says:

    Thank you this is long overdue. Anyone getting aid from the goverment should be registered and getting some type of job.

  31. Anonymous says:

    They should be vaccinated or if no cash. Disgraceful that we are giving unvaccinated people government money. What a horrible policy to give support to unvaccinated tourism workers.

    • Anonymous says:

      What’s your rationale for wanting to discriminate against those who choose to be unvaccinated and accept the risks for themselves? Just what type of person do you think you are that you would think this is good idea? Do you think your way of thinking is the only morally correct option?

  32. Anonymous says:

    Ok, now register the seamen and check their credentials. They are supposed to be dying off from old age but the numbers collecting stipends and benefits are growing. Of course, it doesn’t help that so many of these silly old men picked up young Filipino women to marry and they are collecting the pension and medical benefits while bringing their kids here.

    • Anonymous says:

      I keep wondering how there are so many Seamen! I have a valid question….when did the trend of Caymanian men going off to sea in droves slow down? Was it in the 70s?

      • Anonymous says:

        OK. I tried to assist a stipend recipient to register on WORC website and there’s no portal! Forms for everything but to register of a job!!

        As usual, Government process is assbackwards!!

      • Anonymous says:

        05@8:33pm & 06@11:46 am – Exactly! This new initiative of registering “new” seamen is a farce! Just another grab at free public money! I know a son of a seaman who just joined.

        I was under the impression that the initiative was just to keep the Seamans Association “alive” (pun intended) as the real seaman are dying off! Of course I immediately saw the potential for fraud. But I really didn’t realize that this was approved and no Government member objected to the concept of adding new members who’ve never even sat near the shoreline, let alone go to sea!!

        Yes, the last genuine Caymanian merchant seamen (who are the last remaining seafaring generation) shipped out is the early to mid 1970s!

        Bad enough that some undeserving wives are collecting these benefits but now, son of seamen? Next, grandchildren and great grandchildren?? Non-stop cash cow??

        Someone in authority or who really knows please tell me it’s not so!

      • Anonymous says:

        11:46 am, seamen had to been going to sea and had a minimum of 3 years at sea before 1984 and living in the Cayman Islands to get the benefits, that’s part of the rules but as usual Government workers that supposed to check that out are too lazy. So lots of people are getting the benefits that never went to work on ships and some only went for a few weeks. Very sad.

  33. Anonymous says:

    Excellent initiative! I would humbly suggest:
    – a moratorium on certain categories of work permits whereas employers are advised that they have six months before the expiry date to go through the process of finding a Caymanian for the role, as said WP will not be eligible for renewal for three years.
    – WORC offers excellent training options for corporate employees, but nothing on AML, yet many Caymanians have lost banking and other finance-related jobs in the last three years, who would benefit from a two-day workshop as a refresher.
    Funny enough, I have asked many people about WORC and most complain that it is not effective, yet when I ask if they are registered, invariably the answer is no. My last other observation is that employers seem to think that if someone comes to them via WORC, the person should be grateful to be paid a ridiculously low salary. Cheap labour undermines our economy and perpetuates social issues.

    • Anonymous says:

      So for starters you want to move the goal posts? People who are here for a time and are allowed to at least apply for a renewal you’re just going to say “no”? The term limit is 9 years or whatever which means WP holders are allowed to at least apply for renewals however many times is needed until they reach that limit then rollover. But you want to just say that even if there are no Caymanian applicants (which happens all the damn time) that an employer can’t even APPLY for a renewal. You’re a fool.

      Secondly, a million opportunities exist for AML training. The Chamber does them every few months. You can hire someone to do one for a few bucks. Find one online. AML is not the most complicated administrative task and I don’t believe for a second that anyone has lost a job or been unable to find one due to lack of a two-day training.

      WORC is tasked with enforcing immigration laws which (in an overly simplified way) means ensuring that Caymanians get offered a job above a WP applicant if they are qualified for it. WORC cannot force an employer to hire a Caymanian. They cannot force a specific salary or workplace environment or culture. WORC is not an unemployment office. Look around the world…all countries have immigration policies that in some way seek to balance jobs for citizens above expatriates. But ALL countries also have unemployment and underemployment issues with their citizens. You can’t just keep blaming every problem with employment on WORC and WP holders. Some people are not good employees full stop. That’s their fault and no one else’s.

      • Anonymous says:

        to 9:07am: Oooh. “AML is not the most complicated administrative task”? Then why does the average finance industry employer make it sound like a Caymanian who has worked for a clearing bank for two years, but does not have a STEP or AML certificate is not eligible for a junior/trainee administrator role? And the 9 year renewal is just a strategy for all and sundry to come here and STAY here. I am not xenophobic at all, but the reality is that we cannot continue to ignore the classism, racism and other “isms” that we are contending with, and which the big employers perpetuate with their biased hiring practices – willingly or unwittingly.

        • Anonymous says:

          If a stupid and cheap training certificate is holding you back from your entire career…then go get the damn training. It’s not a college degree…it’s a few days and done. All the “isms” cut both ways. You’re just using your own prejudices to justify your anger towards foreigners. I just left the bank and my mortgage officer was Caymanian. The branch manager is Caymanian. I had to get some paperwork done on the retail side and was helped by three different Caymanians. There is work out there for the right ones and when it’s warranted they’re getting the jobs.
          You want WORC to do everything for you including your AML training and then because you can’t make that one tiny thing work you blame WP holders for and entire career of failure. I’ll pay for you AML training just to prove a point.

          • Anonymous says:

            My anger at foreigners? 😂😂😂 Yeah, sure. Whatever you say. Massa. My lunch over is finished; back to work …

  34. Anonymous says:

    That should have been required a year ago!

  35. Anonymous says:

    Kenneth Bryant loves the sound of his own voice.

    My opinion of him (not great, as you can tell) has never changed since he use to frequent on crosstalk with Woody. It actually pains me every time he talks.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Where is that LOL button when you need it most. This is a giant cluster thingy in the making.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Kudos to Minister Bryan!

    When a reporter asked whether Vaccinated Caymanians from overseas will be included in the tally of Vaccinated population, he was quick to invite such persons to reach out to his ministry directly.

    He is quick and responsive and will help take the Cayman Islands into the 21st century.

  38. Anonymous says:

    A good conference with some good decisions and leadership.

    Perhaps someone could explain to CITA that having a Cayman flag on your shirt does not mean you are Caymanian? It will also be good to hear how much the bellhops are paid (I know the advert said, but I don’t remember it being $30K + when advertised).

    Looking forward to a brighter tomorrow.

    • Anonymous says:

      who TF cares what flag someone has on their shirt. And who TF said anything should be $30k or more? Is that a rule somewhere that everyone has to be paid $30k minimum no matter what they’re doing?

      • Anonymous says:

        The new minimum wage in the tourism sector is now $1500 a month. For zero hours work. Compete with that, CITA.

      • Anonymous says:

        It was Langevin who said the flags were relevant. He also said the lowest paid roles were 30K. A reporter asked how much a bellhop was paid. There was no clear answer given.

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