WORC to open for business in January
(CNS): The premier said that the new labour agency, Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC), which will be taking on the work permit and residency elements of the immigration department and merging them with the responsibilities that were part of the National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA), is expected to open in January. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, Alden McLaughlin said that much work had gone on to ensure this new agency would not just be a case of pasting two departments together. McLaughlin said WORC would create efficiencies and showcase opportunities for Caymanians.
The premier said a lot of research and analysis had been done “to get this right”, with the aim of delivering on his government’s vision of full Caymanian employment. He described the interim director of WORC, Sharon Roulstone, as the ideal person who was passionate about delivering the objectives.
He said that the staff members involved in the development were now hard at work designing the governance and technology to create an agency that will supply the needs of Cayman’s modern workforce without leaving any willing Caymanians behind.
McLaughlin outlined some of the functions within the new agency, which will be split into separate units. There will be a labour market assessment unit that will collect and collate the data on labour demand and facilitate an employer accreditation system. There will also be a training and development unit to help those who are unemployed and struggling with skills gaps to find work. Another element will be the clearing house unit, which will be tasked with matching local workers to available jobs.
It is anticipated that because WORC will also be dealing with permit applications, permanent residency and Caymanian status, it will be able to better match local people looking for work with the jobs that are available in the market.
Other units in the new agency will include the appeals tribunals, which will also handle freedom of information requests, audit and compliance, enforcement support, as well as customer service and financial and operational support.
McLaughlin also noted the development of a Fair Employment Commission, which will be critical to ensuring that local people are treated fairly, not just in their search for meaningful work but also once they are employed. The aim is to help people who are being stymied in their career progress or passed over.
The premier committed to ensuring that this complete overhaul of the work permit and labour system would address the challenges presented by people who are finding it difficult to enter the workforce and support Caymanians who are overlooked or feel disenfranchised in their jobs.
Category: Government Administration, Jobs, Local News, Politics
So, no worc til January? Perfec!
please just make sure your people are first….I’m sure all of Aldart’s benefactor’s people have PR by now anyway…just start applying the rules again..really…please
WORC Sounds like another government entity to be held hostage by the premier and his followers. Another laugh again at the poor old fool-fool bucked toes, cow itched, maiden plum, cat claw, wire- wist Born and bread caymanians.
Work for Orcs.
More delays for those hoping to get PR and more law suits
First thing on the agenda will be a review to see how many new Director and Deputy Director positions they can create in the department, the rationale being that this will create vacancies further down the feeding trough in order to assist the goal of full Caymanian employment.
Full Caymanian Employment! Yeah right, apart for those who’d rather go out robbing.
A world class service!! To achieve this by January is fantastic. Congrats to CO Howell and his Team and Ms Roulstone.
We can complain or we can get on board and help!!
Appeals handled by the same people that made the decision you are appealing against? Yeah that should work. Just end up with more judicial review applications ( for those that can afford it).
Formal appeals will still go to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal (IAT). Appeals under WORC is the team that prepare the documents which are reviewed by the IAT.
WORC is being designed with a function for a quick internal review of a decision but this is in addition to the more formal IAT appeal.
Let’s give it a chance folks.
How long before someone in this department is suspended on full pay for corruption and / or dishonesty? I’ll start the bidding at 2 months.
I’ll see your 2 months, and go for 1 month.
Thank you for fulfilling another of your wonderful promises Mr. Premier. You are the greatest leader Cayman has ever had.
We do need a sarcasm font.
Such concentration of power will be fabulous for corruption.
Every time I see that incredibly poor choice of an acronym, I cringe.
In economic terms there is full employment already. This proposal will increase costs to do business and decrease productivity.
Semantics
Do you know what “semantics” means? God, I hope you were being sarcastic.
the vague and unsupported rants of a guest who refuses to consider the rights of citizens of their host country.
Reads more like someone who has a decent grasp of economics. But you fuel your prejudices. Go on, give them a good pandering. And in your spare time learn the capital letter as it is would really help boost your credibility.
Based on this article this one agency will be responsible for: labour market assessment, training and development and matching local workers to available jobs, permanent residency, Caymanian status, appeals and work permits. I’m sure this isn’t even everything too…
So they are going to combine everything listed under one roof? I can see this is going to be a giant cluster you-know-what. How is one agency going to do all of these things? I guess we find out in January how screwed everyone is going to be based on how government works here…
Sounds like musical chairs.