General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union Toni Moore has blasted the “troubling” practice of businesses hiring foreign workers to fill positions which can be filled by Barbadians.
And she has called on companies to be transparent about their employment criteria and explain publicly what exactly about local applicants are “unsuitable”.
Moore’s comments follow a notice in the newspaper in which a supermarket retailer stated that “having received no suitable responses to our advertisement for the position of Assistant Store Manager, Perishables”, it intended to apply for a non-national to fill the position.
“This is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern we have observed in Barbados. Such practices where local talent is overlooked are not just disappointing but also a serious disadvantage to our skilled and educated workforce,” Moore declared, contending that the issue “strikes at the very heart of our national pride and employment ethics”.
“In a nation boasting over 282 000 individuals, many honed by our world-class educational system, it is inconceivable that businesses operating on our soil consistently fail to find qualified Barbadian candidates. We demand that these businesses share what is unsuitable with the public. It’s a matter of transparency and accountability.”
As is customary under the legally required notice, anyone objecting to the granting of the work permit was invited to respond to the Chief Immigration Officer by January 15. Work permits are required mostly of nationals outside the Caribbean Community (CARICIM) as CARICOM citizens are usually exempt from work permit requirements under the bloc’s free movement provisions, which not only extend to certified skilled workers but also technical and managerial staff.
The BWU boss demanded transparency from businesses seeking foreign workers and questioned what criteria were being used “to deem our local applicants unsuitable”.
“We urge that companies make their hiring processes public to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all,” she said. “The BWU commits that we will be redoubling our efforts and paying closer attention to this practice.
We will advocate tirelessly to ensure that Barbadian workers are treated fairly. We call upon all Barbadians to stand with us in this fight. Our unity and collective voice are crucial in challenging these unfair and discriminatory employment practices.”
Moore assured that the union would fight for the rights of our workers and ensure that the talents and skills nurtured locally are recognised and valued. (BT)
The post BWU boss criticises businesses’ work permit application practice appeared first on Barbados Today.
