Nepalese emerge as fifth largest group of permit holders
(CNS): At the end of 2018, there were 385 work permit holders in the Cayman Islands from the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, but over the last six years, this number has more than tripled. Updated statistics released by WORC reveal that, as of 1 July, there were 1,245 Nepalese workers here, and they now make up the fifth largest group of overseas workers, just behind the British and ahead of Canadians.
According to the latest statistics, there are 37,309 work permit holders in total. This is down slightly from April’s record-breaking high of 37,437, reflecting the seasonal slowdown in the hospitality sector and unlikely to be a trend of decline.
While permit holders hail from over 130 different countries, the significant number from Nepal indicates an emerging change in migrant worker demographics. Over half of the 337 permits granted during the second quarter of 2024 were for Nepalese workers.
Despite the need for the government to understand work permit demographics in order to improve the much-criticised permit, residency and status systems, there is almost no data available to the public about such trends and possible reasons for sudden upticks in permit holders from a specific nation.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 1,600 Nepalese, mostly men, leave their homeland every day now to find employment overseas, largely as a result of the country’s stalled economy since the pandemic. Push factors are also rooted in the political-economic situation, as well as the impact of climate change and natural disasters that are making local livelihoods like farming precarious. But the pull factors, to Cayman in particular, are less clear.
Most Nepalese migrants head for Malaysia or the Middle East. While the number coming to Cayman is tiny in comparison, it may indicate a new pattern here, where there is a tendency for employers to offer work to their existing workers’ friends and family members from their home countries rather than looking elsewhere or trying to find local workers.
The stated aim of successive governments in the Cayman Islands has been to have a diverse range of nationalities among permit holders to address local concerns about the dominance of one nationality. However, Jamaicans continue to make up by far the largest group, as they have for decades, which is unsurprising given the neighbouring island’s history with Cayman and the many direct connections.
The immigration system is designed to make it harder for work permit holders from the larger nationality groups to achieve permanent residency by reducing or eliminating the points awarded on the application to people from those countries.
Jamaicans and Filipinos, the two largest groups (15,404 and 6,460, respectively), don’t get any points at all for their nationality. India nationals, the third largest group with 2,092, and people from the UK (just over 2,000) get just five points, while applicants from all other countries are awarded ten points, as they account for less than 5% of the overall permit numbers.
This means that people from Nepal can still claim ten points if they make a permanent residency application. But, as has been the case for workers coming from India, if the rapid increase in Nepalese migrant workers continues, the points awarded for nationality will decline.
The whole point system has been heavily criticised and has been the basis for many successful legal challenges by PR applicants. In August 2022, local lawyer Steve McField was appointed to head a team of experts to review the points system.
However, it is not known when the results of this committee’s work will be made public or if the government has any real intentions to address immigration issues, especially the road to Caymanian status, something Labour Minister Dwayne Seymour told parliament this week he wants to make much harder to acquire.
According to numbers released through an FOI request by the local law firm HSM and circulated to their clients last week, the immigration boards and administrative staff at WORC have recently picked up the pace of dealing with Right to be Caymanian (RTBC) applications, while new applications appear to be decreasing.
In May 2024, the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residncy Board determined 71 applications for status on the basis of naturalisation and 107 on the basis of marriage. “In that period of time there were only 38 RTBC applications on the basis of naturalisation submitted and 39 applications on the basis of marriage submitted,” the lawyers at HSM said in their circular.
“This suggests the Board is currently concluding far more applications than are currently being submitted and, accordingly, applicants for Caymanian Status may find the wait time for determinations reducing significantly from the position in January 2024 when it reached almost two years to an average of approximately 15 months,” the lawyers added.
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Category: Local News
The Cayman Islands has 37,309 work permits issued. 70% of those(May 2024), some 26,116 additional exploited/disadvantaged economic migrants, are working entry-level minimum wage unskilled jobs, and may or may not be given the full work hours promised in the permit application, or necessarily living in what we might consider acceptable housing, or receiving requisite employer health and pension benefits. The $6 minimum wage labour discount does not get passed through to the end consumers on service pricing, let alone quality control.
Some Caymanians do not understand what is happening.
We are already a minority in our country. The new Caymanians and Caymanians with a foreign parent vastly outnumber any traditional Cayman group. We are being purged! 10 years from now anything that made us Caymanian will no longer be. The look has already changed, the language is already lost, the culture is already lost, the cleanliness’s of the island is lost, the neighbor helping neighbor is lost.
We laugh about all the Philippinos and Indians on the island but but these are some of the most racist group of people around. When that comes home to roost then the last thing that made Cayman great will also be lost.
Buckle up.
Who do you think are seeking to hire and bring in the cheapest global labour possible? Your esteemed brethren. The $6 ESL suckers they dupe into coming here, don’t qualify for PR, nor will they accumulate points for BOTC, and Caymanian Status is a distant fantasy.
Look around!
The status grants gave gardeners, hair dressers, painters etc status. Many more got pregnant to stay or married to dumb sucker Caymanian male with no education. Getting PR and Status is not that hard which is why Mr. Seymour is suggesting that we make it harder.
If all the entry level jobs are taken by work permit holders, some with degrees how will our kids ever get a chance at a job.
You are correct about my “Brethren” they want the labor as cheap as they can get it. To hell with the consequences to the island. Just look at the chamber of commerce, what did they have to say about the minimum wage?
You yourself seem to be a real racist.
I agree with everything! No doubt in that there. I have experienced it already. the racist feel from them. They stare down @ you with a disgust obvious look especially if the dumb business owners provides them with Supervisors and Management postions!
Filipinos need to go home they are attracting other low income workers to head this way after they see how much they are pillaging Cayman. This is not happening by chance it’s organized by the same people or smuggling rings that brought them here Wake up Cayman wake up ! These are folks destroying Caymanian culture and now bring their swarm economic plan to Cayman
Doesn’t take furriners, doing it all yourselves!
A tad racist?
A while back, maybe about a year ago – I overheard an Indian woman talking to someone about how she was bringing in a nanny from Nepal because the language and culture is similar to hers. She lamented on how hard it was to find someone on island and she wasn’t keen on Jamaicans it Filipino’s.
I thought that was interesting how people leave their countries because of poor options, then arrive here and complain about poor options to justify importing more poor options into our island.
Our government and politicians have broken this island. And this nonsensical group of “independents” are the single worst thing to have happen to the Cayman Islands since Mckeeva’s status grants.
And Caymanians selling out and Caymanuans voting in same sh** for what reward! Stop the work permits then!
Stop voting in same ole fossils!
If that happens the Cayman middle and lower class will collapse as they won’t do the jobs at the pay the work permit holders will. CIG will not get their gravy train of permit fees, and will not be able to continue the handouts for the unemployed. Be careful what you wish for. Caymanians don’t have a good record of anticipating unintended consequences.
Alas you need to change the Elections Law rules to retire the same old.
If you look at migration statistics worldwide Filipinos, Indian and Chinese are largest migrants groups worldwide. however If you look at records of first world nations after getting residence permits Filipinos will only work cash and hand jobs while claiming unemployment benefits. Philippines 🇵🇭is largest exporter of fake degree holder nurse and Doctors worldwide. While Indian are known for using student visas to migrate overseas. No doubt migrants are blessing different ways however poorly managed border management can creates flood of unwanted migrants.
What 1,245 Nepalese workers do? Are they in construction or hospitality? Fixing cars? In healthcare? Men and women? Just curious.
Find out for yourself!
There are dozens of Nepalis on the Island unemployed looking for day jobs every day of the week. How they are allowed to be here with next to zero English skills and even lower working skills!! How and why are these people able to gain work permits!!
Immigration needs to pay closer attention to the so-called “employers” who are bringing all these low-skilled workers to the Island.
I personally believe that the time has come for us to be more sympathetic to our Caribbean neighbors. Yes traditionally has been our largest workforce and that’s understandable. However their are numerous other Caribbean islands that we can offer assistance too. The reality is: in time of emergency the quickest assistance will be coming from our neighbors. Also it make business sense in helping your neighbors economy to grow and flourish this will intern offer greater opportunities for our people to expand their business venture because of the increased in cross border trades. The Asian economy is growing in leaps and bound because they assisted each other. We subsequently look to far away places and forger our neighbors. Hopefully we will wake up come to our senses before it’s too late.
I agree to helping our neighbours if we exclude Jamaica. We’ve helped them enough.
So you want to exclude a specific country to not be neighborly to? So much for Caymankind.
If the goal is to have a diverse expat population, there needs to be a moratorium on work permits for Jamaicans. A better balance has to be struck because right now, Jamaican culture is becoming the dominant culture in Cayman. And I’m not saying there is anything wrong with Jamaican culture. I’m saying that we are rapidly losing our own culture and identity as Caymanians.
…there is PLENTY wrong with aspects of Jamaican culture!
its lost – all the food shops and corner stores are catered to Jamaicans. The Parties thrown on island are 90% by Jamaicans for Jamaicans. They are a dominant people and are PROUD of their culture. Caymanians should learn something from them. They are now running even the illegal markets and underbelly of Cayman. Caymanians got their country taken over by foreign nationals without a shot even being fired.
election will be here soon. let us all go on a strike and remove the fake @ss politians from the post!
This Island is far too popular in distant lands. Why do we have so many people from Philipines, India and Asia. Oh wait i know, because the Immigration gives them PR and they bring their entire extended family and friends, telling them how easy it is. Caymanians are really a silly lot. This wouldnt be tolerated anywhere else in the world without being rightly classed as an invasion. Caymanians were called lazy because we didn’t want to work and be able to own a home or live like canned sardines, so the elites brought in other slaves who are 2 decades are starting to complain about sed wages.
Keep going, Nepal is only 41 on the list of the poorest countries. There is still room to lower wages before you reach South Sudan
We need cheaper workers so us rich folks can enjoy our pampered lives better. You know this cost of living is a killer!
The Jamaicans including their white merchant class are in total control now and just before the DG and the other few Caymanians resign, they the Jamaicans will allow other expats to work in lower positions to serve as a distraction. Then their young people will secure jobs in the public service and tokens in financial sector, while the generational Caymanians still believe they’re making decisions with their preferred (white expats) co=workers and destroying opportunities for their own. This has been stated repeatedly over the past 35 years and when Caymanians get burnt they still don’t learn, but your children and grandchildren will be left with nothing, trust me when the Jamaicans and other expats control Parliament no gen Caymanians will be around. All gone in two generations.
This isn’t America where we are divided between white and black. The original Caymanian settlers were white so what you are saying doesn’t make sense.
This issue is NOTHING to do with color. If you think it does, you do not understand Cayman or Caymanians.
Somebody somewhere in border control isn’t doing what they should be doing as far as I’m concerned, far too many people here doing silly stuff locals could do if they wanted to that is lol
*”if they wanted to for unlivable slave wages”
FTFY.
They always say this. Boo hoo.
same the world over when you start your career, if you ‘ve realized it yet, your wages will increase with promotions, experience.
No where would a school leaver expect a lawyers’ wages for an entry level position.
Starting out as an accountant, after tax, rent, travel and student loans, I was left with around 20 a week for food, and everything else, couldn’t afford a mobile phone for first 2 years.
That is life!
Can we replace our Police Farce with about 300 Gurkhas?
I’m sure the Nepalese on island can be put to better use than holding doors open at Govt offices.
UK should get more points. What a joke.
Why?
I have met some people from Nepal working in the security business. I have found them to be extremely polite and also interesting to talk to. Remember the Gurkhas hail from Nepal. They were fearless in the Second World War and many sacrificed their lives for freedom.. We should respect these people and make them welcome to Cayman.
We should just welcome all humans, from anywhere in the world, that bring needed skills, and are here to deliver a good job. We don’t need to suggest there are other criteria, or point to past colonialism combat roles to prove the merit case. We should treat all humans with dignity and kindness, especially if they are doing a good job. We should seek to attract and retain this talent with a living wage, releasing those that don’t make the grade, or who are no longer needed. Simple as that. There are thousands of permit worker nestling in Cayman that are idle and not needed, except on a temporary basis. That is bonkers.
What about all the buy a work permit Jamaican construction workers roaming all over the place looking for work? Why oh honorable Jon-Jon is this being allowed to happen, inquiring minds what to know.
and the cleaners knocking door to door looking for work.
I don’t recall ANY Caymanians knocking on my door looking for work. At least give some credit for those who are motivated enough to look for work.
Too right Chris, they are very respectful and considerate people who take pride in their work, extremely rare traits these days.
As a Caymanian, I think humans should be able to live anywhere they want. Just as long as we all comfortably fit, and respect the laws and religion.
You lost us at the second sentence. There is no criteria that your human employees bend to heel under your yoke. Leave your religion at home, or at least follow its Golden Rules. You also need to reciprocate that respect.
I seems that $1CI equals to over $150Nepalese Rupee.
so then, $4CI can but a good restaurant meal in Nepal.
The rampant Cheap imported slave labor is driving the local Minimum Wage down. even more ($7/hr next year) and local unemployment crisis!
Cayman is GONE to the doss
Don’t worry yourself about that minimum wage nonsense, our esteemed labor minister Jon-Jon Seymour has put the squash to that subject.
I think you will find that it is your elected officials who are responsible for the low minimum wage. They don’t want their businesses to stop making them rich (on top of one of the highest salaries for MPs in the world, don’t forget)
where are the irish?????…we run this place!
Love the Irish. We should have more of them.
No potatoes over here laddy.
https://youtu.be/yAEFKjqPtlU?si=JxB9aNj-AU8BXuu6
more nepalese and philipinos please….
clean, hard working , honest people.
Not more Filipinos, we have enough and some of them are becoming entitled and rude!
No, the Filipinos are taking over our culture. We have nothing in common with them and our people are having children with them so we are losing more of our culture. They don’t contribute anything. They send everything home. They smile with you while causing trouble behind your back.
I personally had to move because they were turning their 1 bd apartment into a laundromat and a barber’s service for their community members. I had to walk through the row of men in their underwear and women sitting casually in the common areas getting groomed, cooking their meals, listening to their music. Their visitors would arrive in large vans and practically occupy the grounds and common areas. They were simply ignoring the other renter’s right for a quiet and peaceful weekend.
It is also happening because your civil service refuses to consistently and effectively enforce laws.
Are you suggesting restricting who Caymanians can have children with? Wow, this rock has really lost its soul.
No one can restrict who people have children with. I’m just saying that there are too many anchor babies. The expats get pregnant so they can stay here. I bet you wouldn’t feel the same way if a Caymanian got pregnant by a murderer and we keep the murderer here because he has a child by a Caymanian.
What culture. That practiced by the governments we have.
Work permits need to be better scrutinized. People are coming in with no skill sets and immediately try to get pregnant so they can claim right to family life or they get married to some low self esteem Caymanian . It’s ridiculous and most of them can be found at the food banks on island. Everyone’s aware of this scam and the powers to be refuse to do anything about it.
Not so, Honorable Seymour is on top of all these issues.
get rid of him
And yet no Nepalese restaurants??? What gives?? Why are we being deprived?
Where are they being employed? What skills do they possess? I remember I had to submit from my State professional Board that I am in a good standing. Does it apply to all expats?
So you ask 1) where they’re employed and 2) what their capabilities are which are relevant questions, but why are you inferring that they probably aren’t vetted in terms of character?
Or do you just casually assume that everyone who pops out of Nepal (and other southeast Asian countries) are a wanted criminal?
Why won’t you just answer the question if you know the answer. It is you who is assuming
Tell me you don’t work in security or hospitality without telling me you don’t work in security or hospitality.
What the hell you mean skills, all you have to do is work really cheap and you can get all the work you want.
This is a huge immigration scam which is Taxing these poor people over 10-15K to get here run by people smugglers& gangs rings and greedy Caymanian & Nepalese connected employment agencies no one will talk because they are desperate to get employment the shady repayment scheme is the kicker placing the female employees in compromising situations amounts to sex trafficking look at what this place has now become a cesspool of migrant workers plying their criminal trade right here . Yes and while Rome burns our political leaders and Governor Fiddles .
While I agree that we should not be importing poverty in the form of foreign labour and we should enforce human trafficing laws, in my experience there are few if any Nepalese or Filipinos in the “cesspool of migrant workers”. The vast majority are hardworking polite people.
They are, but many live squalid with multiple families crammed into small buildings.
Who own the properties and who are the landlords… if allowed to happen, it will happen.
That’s what you think but unfortunately the reality is far different sham marriages fake documents inventory theft and workplace internal theft and whole gambit of criminal behaviour and activities now hemorrhaging this place while polite manners fooling dummies like you !
This works out well. Soon Mt Trashmore will be the same height as Everest and we can use the Nepalese to give authentic mountain tours.
You’re a truly disgusting person.
I think it was a joke… Don’t take it to heart
Sarcasm alert!
Maybe they can carry throne chairs for our Premier, speaker and other cabinet members. You could get a few to do those big feathered fans. Just think what the tourists would think about that.
Cayman’s greatest strength is diversity! Nepal people are welcome what a beautiful country and people. Just like the Democrats in USA having open borders this diversity is really super. Maybe the Kimpton and Ritz hotel can be used to house the Nepalese.
The Nepali workers I have come to know are wonderful kind people and I welcome more of them!
The new Health City hospital?