Nassau – The Bahamas government says it will conduct a review examining labour certificate applications and employment data.
“The purpose of this review is to obtain a clear understanding of the facts surrounding current employment practices and to ensure that our policies continue to serve the best interests of the Bahamian people,” said Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell.
“This is not an exercise intended to discourage investment or create uncertainty for employers. Rather, it is a fact-based review designed to identify challenges, promote transparency, and strengthen opportunities for Bahamians.”
He said the ministry will collaborate with the Department of Labour and other relevant agencies to conduct the review will also meet with employers to understand better their workforce requirements, staffing challenges, and long-term labour needs.
“We are committed to making informed decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions.
Our objective is to strike the appropriate balance between supporting economic expansion and ensuring that qualified Bahamians have meaningful access to employment and career advancement,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said that the work permit process is important in cases of legitimate labour shortages in specialised occupations and that the law stipulates that before a work permit application can be considered, employers looking to recruit foreign workers must obtain a certificate from the Department of Labour confirming that the required skills are unavailable locally.
This process is also required for work permit renewals, which are no longer automatic.
He said these procedures are meant to protect opportunities for qualified Bahamians.
However, he noted there have been significant concerns about the number of foreign workers employed at the Grand Bahama Shipyard and the Freeport Container Port, adding “the government understands these concerns and takes them seriously.
“Many of these industries require highly specialised skills. Our responsibility is to determine whether suitably qualified Bahamians are available to fill these positions or whether additional education and technical training are needed to prepare more Bahamians for these careers.”
Mitchell said Prime Minister Philip Davis has engaged directly with the leadership of the major industrial employers to discuss the issue and that the government is committed to working with educational institutions to ensure Bahamians are better prepared to fill roles where skilled worker shortages currently exist. (CMC)