WORC board delays related to ‘necessary’ training
(CNS): Officials at Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC) have said that the delays to the processing of work permits over the last few months has been due to the need to train the new board members. According to the CITA president and Ritz general manager, Marc Langevin, work permits in the hospitality sector are not being being processed and he has warned of a looming crisis for the tourism sector next year if it is not sorted out soon.
But in a press release Friday, WORC confirmed that all of its statutory boards will be taking a break for the holiday season and will not meet again until January.
The size of the backlog, which WORC said was due to the training, has not been revealed, though CNS has requested information related to the current situation surrounding permits. However, officials said the boards have been meeting since mid-November and before that permits were being handled administratively.
“Although there was an initial delay in meetings following the appointment of new board members, all boards have been active with applications being reviewed and processed in parallel with department administrators,” WORC Deputy Director Sian Pairaudeau said.
“We understand the impact on our customers while the boards were in transition, which included delays in the review and adjudication on some applications. However, the training process was necessary to ensure continuity and timely processing of applications moving forward.”
WORC said that the board training was focused on data protection sensitization and cyber awareness, as well as going through a familiarization process with board secretaries, relevant processes and policies.
The Caymanian Status and Permanent Resident Board also received training on the permanent resident (PR) point system. Additional training will run parallel to board meetings, which will resume in early January 2022 following the holiday break. But applications that can be dealt with administratively will continue to be adjudicated as normal, the officials added.
While the election, the re-appointment of the board and the training process has led to the delays, the tourism sector is concerned that the political pressure from Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan and Labour Minister Chris Saunders is adding to the problem.
The two ministers have made no secret of the fact that they do not want to see hundreds of work permits being issued to expatriate workers while there are thousands of unemployed Caymanians, many of whom are receiving tourism stipends from government.
Langevin has said with certainty that work permits in the tourism sector are not being processed. He claimed this is now the biggest barrier to bringing staffing at hotels back up to a level that, in turn, will increase the employment of Caymanian workers.
He said that without cooks in the kitchen — and there are very few Caymanian chefs and food preparation staff — hotels cannot function and therefore cannot employ all of the other workers, from reception and housekeeping to bar and waiting, which are more likely to attract local job seekers.
With the whole tourism recovery in jeopardy from the anticipated impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the ongoing community transmission of the Delta strain, as well as problems attracting people into hospitality, the stalled work permit process is another issue the sector must contend with.
Officials confirmed the weekly schedule of board meetings will resume in January. The Work Permit Board meets every Monday, the Business Staffing Plan Board meets on Wednesdays and some Fridays, and the Caymanian Status and Permanent Resident Board meets every Thursday. The Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Work Permit Board meets every other Tuesday.
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Category: Government Administration, Jobs, Local News, Politics
“Langevin has said with certainty that work permits in the tourism sector are not being processed. He claimed this is now the biggest barrier to bringing staffing at hotels back up to a level that, in turn, will increase the employment of Caymanian workers.”
What a crock of rubbish, if they had any intention of training and employing Caymanians, they could have started training them 2 years ago!
All private sector board members. Why are we surprised? All they want is a few hundreds dollars per meeting and a free lunch.
You can’t train anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. But you can use them to close down whatever is left of the tourism sector. Well done. Voters happy.
A tourism sector that is neither owned by nor employs Caymanians, that has repeatedly treated the people of these islands with disdain, that lies to regulators, that chases us from the beach, mocks our cuisine, refuses to provide any local food in its establishments, pays derisory wages, causes the mass importation of poverty and overwhelms our infrastructure, should absolutely be shut down.
Time for it to turn a new leaf. Immediately. What we have had over the last decade is not of benefit to Caymanians.
Could not have said it better myself.
Every developed nation has standards, morals, and birthrights that are available to benefit its born locals and authentic citizens alone that will be honored at all costs. No platform of discussion nor forum to debate them whatsoever.
Why is it such an issue when we are simply asking to claim and assert ours?
Caymanians are vividly infuriated and monsterously offended of being disrespected and scorned, used and abused, disadvantaged and degraded in their own nation. Period.
Any outsiders that want to stay or share in any benefits of any industry here must reciprocate the same level of world-class respect, dignity, and opportunity we gladly and genuinely offer in any other jurisdiction when the tables are turned.
During the past year or so both governments could have kick started the old Hotel Training School. They didn’t. Why not.
Doubt if Bryan knows what they are.
Why do we need hotel training schools while we have multiple real hotels with real world training programs already a requirement of the law? On the job training is unequalled as a means of effective instruction, especially in the service and culinary fields.
Are you aware that most of the Caribbean Islands have such schools. Not all hotels are the size of the Ritz.
Stop trying to emulate the Caribbean. It is our undoing.
Try Switzerland if you want a model for how to do it. The best of the best apprenticed in their fields.
As someone that sits on one of the WORC boards, this is not true……We are meeting 2 sometimes 3 times a week.
So someone in Government is lying to the press and the public? OK then. That makes it all better…
I dont believe it. I cannot fathom how an actual WORC board member could write a comment within a day of an article being published.
Clearly you are not a WORC board member. If you were one, you would not respond for atleast 3 weeks.
And comment of the month goes to 12.56pm lol
Hey anonymous board member, can you answer a few questions:
1. What policies are Sian referring to? Because based on responses to FOI requests, there are no policies, and everything is in draft form.
2. How were you appointed? Cousin of PACT member, friend of PACT member, girlfriend or boyfriend of PACT member, or healthy donor to someone’s campaign? Can you enlighten CNS readers as to the application and appointment process for board members at WORC?
3. Have you declared any conflicts of interests? Is it noted in the minutes when you recuse yourself based on these conflicts?
4. Have you actually reviewed an immigration file yet or do you make your decisions based on the bullet points the barely literate board secretary reads out to the board in between gossip sessions amongst the board members?
5. What is the stipend you’re being paid for your appointment?
6. What is the lunch budget now a days for WORC board meetings? Seems you’re getting a lot of free food if you’re meeting a few times a week.
7. Have there been any work permit refusals because of suitably qualified Caymanian/PMC/RERC candidates during your tenure? Does the board receive reports of Caymanian/PMC/RERC applicants from JobsCayman as legally required when considering a work permit application?
8. How many applications does the board review during a multi-hour meeting? Administrators are delegated a certain quota per day so theoretically a multi-person board could review way more per day.
9. Any thoughts on the SEZ work permits being exempt from multiple requirements in the Immigration Act? How about the fact that regardless of job title, SEZ permits have the same flat fee of CI$1230 per annum (someone can double check that fee as it is from my memory).
10. Did you know that all advertisements, including those posted online, must be included in work permit applications? Did you also know that all online and newspaper advertisements should be published simultaneously with the jobscayman post? And that the advertisements should be identical? Noting that, will Marc and the rest of the CITA gang ever be held accountable if these advertisements are not included in the work permit applications submitted or if these advertisements don’t match the jobscayman posting:
https://www.jobmonkeyjobs.com/cayman-islands
https://www.hozpitality.com/browse-jobs/grand-cayman/
These are on the first page of google. Imagine if WORC board and staff members actually tried. Also, since you’ve been trained by the experts at WORC, you should be able to find the applicable provisions in the immigration legislation referred to above.
11. Why aren’t certain positions required to be advertised despite the legislation stating that all jobs where work permits are sought must be advertised? Were you advised of the legal reasoning for this during your training? Perhaps Sian in her infinite expertise can advise you.
12. Have you seen any work permits refused for failing to fulfill a reg 6 or BSP training condition yet?
Enjoy your free lunches and stipend for being a PACT sycophant while the rest of starve waiting for answers to these questions.
@4:41
1. – there are no finalized board policies. They are all in draft form. However I believe that 2 of them are just about ready to be published.
2. – Sian is not a Board member, she is a CIG employee, Deputy Director of Boards
3. – Sian does not attend board meetings, and does not have a say/vote on whether an application is approved or refused.
4. – See #3 above
5. – See #2 above. However, I believe the stipend for all board members is CI$100.00 plus lunch.
6. – The budget I THINK is approximately CI$15 – $20 per member
7. – Yes and Yes. But please note that no board can force a company to hire a Caymanian. All they can do is refuse a work permit if the believe that a suitably willing and qualified Cayman to fill the position. Let me say this again, no board nor WORC employee can force a business to hire a Caymanian.
8. – As far as I am aware, the boards will determine an application collectively. Not individually like the Administrators.
9. – N/A
10. – Yes, yes and yes. If adverts don’t meet the requirements of the law, the employer is advised to re-advertise and meet the requirement. By law employers may also apply for the waiver of an advert.
11. See #10 above.
12. Yes. But again, an employer cannot be forced to hire a particular person. Even if the have not fulfilled a Regulation 6 requirement.
Hope this helps.
So why no effective enforcement for even flagrant breaches of the law and regulations?
@12:06 – I’m sorry, but that is one question that I am unable to answer.
Thank you for engaging. Please try to deal with the corruption that pervades. Those responsible must be held accountable. Good luck!
@9:22am – as someone who works at WORC, your statement is not true. NONE of the boards, the WPB, the BSP Board, or the CS&PR Board meet 2 – 3 times a week. The WPB, prior to COVID, used to meet twice a week, but since then they only meet once a week, by Zoom.
HSA Board didn’t need so much training. They already out and doing things!
#worldclass.
And Minister Kenny ‘Cayman 1st’ Bryan has run off to the UK for Christmas leaving his constituents and the rest of the country to deal with his Cruise Ship on the 28th. Hope he stays over there- the Cayman would be better off.
Well.. he’s not allowed entry into the USA for his drug convictions, maybe he can compete in another male beauty queen competition in the UK as well! Unfortunately for the people of the Cayman Islands, this buffoon will be allowed back in. It is my circus, but looking new homes for the current monkeys at hand. Any takers….?….
At least the average IQ of the island went up the day he left.
But I thought all the Caymanians were going to do these jobs? Why the need for permits?
Oh, I forgot, because a tiny bunch of slave drivers on this rock import poverty and then take advantage of them for the bare minimum (and most of the time worse than that) whilst claiming locals don’t want the work.
Wonder how much this has changed since the 1800s for a lot of the poor people coming from overseas these days. Slaves no more that’s for sure, but definitely not far off – they can always go home though if they don’t like it? right? right?
Typical. Work is equivalent of slavery. Helluva attitude there pal. I’m sure you make your parents real proud.
Right! Settle down now. Have another drink.
It’s funny how people from Canada, the US and the UK will come here and work in the service industry but for a national it’s “slave labor”. The entitlement knows no bounds
Crap..Y’all know there are 2 or 3 levels of serfdom in tourism.
Guess who stays at the top?
And don’t come here with the condescending replies. We all know the cheap reverse psychology..Desensitization and gaslighting..blame the victim..that y’all love to use against pions..locals and others.. who you use as cheap labor.
My permission to continue working application was not approved until after my next application (6 months later) was due. It was sent to me by email on Dec 16 had an issued date of Dec 18 and it had already expired Dec 6. Make it make sense.
It is abundantly clear that the hoteliers have had their day and never thought that there would be a day of reckoning. Of course with the assurances given by the Old guard politicos and the rich owners one would expect no changes.
The real question to be asked is ; what training programs are in place within the Hotel industry that provide career oaths in the various disciplines, is government aware of them, does any one monitor them I.e. if they exist We talk a lot about accountability but these hoteliers need to be made accountable, especially when they throw their weight around and they and their foreign staff are always discrimating against Caymanians . Yeah we know Missa Mark. There may be some recording gs still bout side place.
Ask yourself this, and be honest with yourself if you can, why would the hotels CHOOSE to pay work permit fees in order to ignore qualified Caymanians?
Maybe because the WP fees are super low and if they get someone locked into a permit they have more control over an employee that is most likely willing to work for a lower wage.
Also Caymanian employees are much more likely to have families/dependents that end up on the employer’s health insurance plan. The addition can in certain cases cost more than a WP.
Raise permit fees in the Hospitality sector to match those in Financial Services and see what happens. Employers in theory should hire some additional Caymanians at higher wages or invest in improved automation and efficiency.
but it’s like this all over the world? Why is Cayman different? Pay the servers what the legal firms make? It’s unskilled labor
According to the permit applications it is highly skilled, which is why locals do not qualify.
Let me explain this again. At no point did I say pay the unskilled labour what lawyers make.
But why is every gardener and fast food worker here on a work permit?
Why are Pastors free? Surely in this Christian Nation we could find enough locally?
Why do we have so few Caymanian, clerks, drivers and handymen?
There are limited entry level and part-time jobs because it is so cheap to hire someone on a permit.
If you look at Hospitality:
Bartender – $1,575
Concierge – $750
Artist/Musician – $550
My favourite is General Manager – $13,000
Marc Langevin at the Ritz’s position is $13k, the comparable position at a Law Firm is $30,375. The Ritz is a damn site bigger and more profitable than many of the Law Firms here.
Take a look at all the fees sometime:
http://www.immigration.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/immhome/help/fees/Immigration%20Regulations%20(2013%20Revision).pdf
There are so many categories and varying rates that is it open to abuse. A much better system would be to charge based on the qualifications needed for the job with a minimum rate of $3k perhaps. If you aren’t willing to pay $3k for the worker maybe you don’t need them.
Exactly!!
There are many many reasons for this. They include:
The work permit fees are ridiculously low and so are not a real barrier.
Expatriate have no family members here and so do not get distracted by school runs or sick parents.
Expatriates will do what they are told, including working extended hours without legally mandated overtime.
Expatriates will take unpaid time off Island in the slow season, and surrender their leases etc. in Cayman so that they can afford to do so.
The deductions for health insurance of children can and does result in Caymanians getting negative pay-slips in slow season which causes political and regulatory embarrassment.
The expat “girl” might be “cuter” than the Caymanian lady.
The expat may be their manager’s family friend from their home town.
The expat does not need to be paid as much to meet their needs living in Cayman given the shared (often unlawful) nature of the housing of single expatriate workers.
No pension needs to be paid for expatriate workers for the first 6 months of their employment, making their employment cheaper.
A mistreated expatriate cannot easily leave you for a competitor.
A mistreated expatriate cannot easily access legal protections.
Heres the difference in Cayman people thing a job is right of theirs, to others it’s an opportunity and a contract. A job is not a right, people can hire whoever they want around the world
No. Around the world, in every country, you cannot hire whomever you want. You have to hire nationals of that country if you want absolute freedom in who you employ. Cayman seems to be the only place where a substantial number of employers believe they can employ whoever they want from around the world, even in the face of qualified unemployed locals.
That is not wholly accurate. Every country in the world has its own rules about bringing in foreign workers and what is required to do so. Some are more strict than others and it usually depends on the industry. In the US, it’s much easier to bring someone in for a tech job or hospitality job than for other types. Each country has its rules…including this one. The difference is the folks at WORC and the boards and the politicians have weaponized the system and are not following their own rules to try and make a political point.
Actually, they have not followed their own rules for a decade and have granted permits on request to the friends of a certain chief officer and others. The industry overplayed its advantage. Now the facts of life are catching up.
@10.21 -This is EXACTLY why work permit holders should be allowed to change jobs during the currency of a work permit. Because the employers can basically hold them hostage.
Caymanians will need some training. Expatriates already have the training and experience elsewhere. If the hotels are refusing to provide any adequate training, it is not a fair contest from the get go.
Because Caymanian workers are not and never have been dependable. They have created the bias toward hiring expat workers and as usual will not take responsibility and blame it on employers. If they were dependable, skilled and showed it they would not be in the back of the line by now. CIG is pushing them on employers because they can not hire any more unemployables for Civil service. Your welcome
Just go.
Leave.
Return from whence you came to our paradise.
You know the story: they need us more than we need them. Sadly, even in a pandemic, they are just too proud to admit it though.
That is why every threat to leave is always an empty promise.
These deplorables in particular are so feebly desperate for any semblance of the good life, they will do whatever it takes to discriminate on immigration status and harass anyone who threatens the gravy train that provides it.
If these monsters actually do leave and go back home for good, their newly acquired God complexes couldn’t handle mere moral status once again and will consume them from the inside out!!!
it doesn’t really matter what you say if they don’t show up in the first place, or maybe show up then need to look after the kid as the baby momma needs to go work, or that they have a court a case, or that they got a call from school to go and speak with a teacher…………or the best one yet, ate some bad crab…got dem shits! all of course after the first or if your lucky the 2nd weeks pay.
The Ombudsman, whose office is responsible for good governance, thinks this is fine.
That office should be closed down. Whether due to its own failings, or of the legislation underpinning it, it is no more than an expensive charade. Rather than being a check and balance, it has become an enabler of bad governance.
9.24pm I absolutely agree.Complaints against the police are handled by an ex policeman and I can say without hesitation and from personal experience such complaints are a waste of time.
Want to talk about good governance in the Office of the Ombudsman? The deputy Ombudsman in charge of complaints is a former Director of WORC who did not recuse herself from investigating complaints against WORC.
There is no recourse, there are no repercussions for any of the elite, connected power players involved in the ruination of Cayman.
My goal for next year as a Caymanian is to leave and read about the destruction of Cayman from somewhere else where I may have an opportunity to find a job, to earn a decent living, to find suitable accommodation, to live amongst those who are not ignorant, corrupt assholes. There is no hope here. There is nothing left.
Sobering. It’s been coming for many years… and has been accelerated during all of this madness. A safe haven for some and a heartbreaking home for others.
Hopefully they are trained to start deporting all the entitled riffraff and imported poverty here the tourism industry is so desperate to pay slave wages to, while adamantly discriminating against unemployed locals simply based on immigration status.
No one can realistically survive or lead a healthy life on $4.50/hr plus tips in Cayman. You are either destitute or desperately stupid if you are willing to call that a fair wage.
Take it as you may.
I worked in tourism for 22 years. I just bought my 4th property. No help from anyone. This song and dance about no money ? It’s old. I worked 22 Christmas Days 21 New Years Eves 21 New Years days and every other bank holiday. The fact of the matter is in order to get paid in tourism you have to show up.
Easy there….they might get their feelings hurt that you are not complaining and instead just busting your butt.
What’s it all worth when your wife/husband is spending Christmas with some other lover and your kids are disconnected from you because you work 6 days a week including weekends and holidays until 1am?
Yes, there is money to be made… but speaking as someone who’s worked in tourism (not saying the aforementioned things happened to me) the lifestyle isn’t for anyone.
How about we focus on vocational jobs as well? Plumbing, electrical and mechanical jobs are just as important and necessary.
FYI, $4.50 in 1999, is now $7.51 in 2021.
A lot has changed in Cayman, and with the average price of real estate at the $1 million mark, you either bought way earlier than that, or you have other incomes that you are not disclosing.
Either way, it is mathematically impossible to buy four properties on that wage.
Absolutely not. Mortgages and rental income can easily get a low paid worker to 4 properties over 20 years. The issue is the deposit on the first property. After that it gets easier every year. As equity builds, your borrowing capacity increases. As property prices rise, your equity increases. It takes cash and courage, and blood sweat and tears, but it is not a mystery and many have achieved it.
So it’s not really about discriminating on immigration status is it? At about discriminating based on the wage the employer is prepared to pay versus the one you would like to be paid. B e honest tho – would you want the job anyway even if it paid $20 an hour? And where is you wrath about all those other jobs that pay minimum wage like helpers, gardeners, supermarket staff? I guess unlike hotel employees paying those people more would impact your pocket so you are perfectly ok with them getting minimum wage.
I initially worked tourism in the late 70s while in school.
90% locals were happily and professionally employed then.
Visitors loved it!
I know tourism this decade..10percent Natives and 25percent status holders..mostly relegated to low end jobs; while Friends and Family of immigrant managers happily prosper – especially on temp 6month permits (then go home or elsewhere for 6 months.
Thing is..temp permits are EASY to get and no pension deductions are required..so it is stacked heavily Against the local labour force!!
Then the Tourism Assn, Chsmber of Commerce and other decision making boards are stacked with the resort owners..so there is no hope unless government steps in.
Good. Let’s fix it properly this time.
While we’re at it, why weren’t dozens of locals trained at each resort and restaurant over the past 2 years..when they depended on local customers entirely?
A lot of Canadians knocking about on Jamrock tbh. It’s almost like it’s one big clique of people just taking everything they can whilst complaining about being here.
What else is new??!!! Not just Canadians…
Fact of the matter is they love to cry over spilt milk from their cash cow and would rather give it to fellow foreigners then scoff a penny at a local. Not just in Cayman…
Easiest money they will ever make and they know it.
They complain about being anywhere that actually puts a foot down against their narcissistic God complex.
Why do you think most are not even welcome back home???
True. But Jamaica don’t take crap from them like Cayman
Sounds like you got held accountable by a Canadian thats all.
Because of the anti social culture many locals are growing up in makes them unsuitable to work in any costumer related jobs. That’s why.
Mark where is the tourists?surely not here in the cayman island
I find this to be utter BS. I know people waiting almost a year for their status applications just to be heard. 8 months to renew a nanny permit. There’s no excuse for this backlog. People have a right to have their paperwork reviewed in a timely fashion. Just politricks and bullsht
Marc. Why are there no Caymanian cooks in the kitchen? Has the industry not trained anyone in the last 30 years?
They have to show up.
Who wants to be trained in Clingon cuisine?
Erroneous these jobs should be going to unemployed Caymanians on a quality salary and a starter home signing bonus. Enough said problem solved
sure, defer the bonus for 12 months and see how many of them are given out!
🤣🤣🤣 Muppet
This is what happens when no one cares about getting the job done. Same old same old.
This is all distraction. There is no real training. The unskilled and inexperienced are in control of sophisticated industries and have no accountability. This is not a new story. The problem is now so big they cannot hide it anymore.
Sad but true.
Look at ALT. Got kicked off planning board – so the best place for some guy who runs a home and construction equitment company is … the airport board!!!
This is what happens when you only want untrained and unskilled Caymanians or others to work and no skilled and trained expats. The tourism sector might just be better off going somewhere else for a few years. It’s not to hard to see that Caymanians do not want any expats workers period which means no businesses that need them will survive for much longer. Just keep doing what your doing and the island will go back to it’s third world roots and become much more comfortable for Caymanians which seems like that’s what they want more than a first world economy.
Ummm wrong island. We have no third world roots here. Your ignorance, and your attitude, are part of the problem.
You try to say Cayman in the pre 80’s wasn’t third world? ROTFLOL. Learn your own history.
I was here. I lived it. It was anything but third world. It was safe, clean, organized and friendly. The people thrived. The education system was world class.
6.12pm I agree except for your last comment which suggests you must be Caymanian especially using the term “world class”.
The education system was based around O -Levels (it replicated the better aspects of the English education system) and yes, was quite literally, world class.
10.00am How many graduates of your world class system were accepted by Oxford and Cambridge universities?.
Hundreds, every year. GCSE’s and A-Levels are the standard path to acceptance of most applicants to those universities.
Was
Look around, Dude.
When I look around I see large numbers of persons from the third world, exhibiting third world behaviors. For the most part, they are not Caymanian.
They marry them so they are now. They get them permits to do construction they barely are trained for.
Cayman will never be comfortable for us ever again. Too many strangers with Status now
Planning board didn’t seem to need so much “training” Sian….
You can teach a dog to bark once for yes with a few biscuits in 10 minutes.
Truth is, many WORC employees have been out with covid for the entire month of December. Somehow, I think they will all recover safely and be ready to work at worc after the holidays. Life is grand when you are on the public jobs subsidy program. Screw the employers seems to be the attitude.
Could the necessary training not have occurred while the old board was still in place?
You know to maybe hit the ground running on something important…
That would require some private sector wherewithal.
Soon come
You know, as obvious as this comment is in retrospect, its probably something that CIG needs to adopt as standard practice. Instead of the current process of Cabinet surprises when a board is refreshed do it so there is a hand-over period. Usually they don’t reappoint an entire board so the newcomers learn on the job from the experienced members. Which also works, but a formal hand-over period, with standardised training for all boards, would be a useful development.