Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts has announced that changes to the Immigration Law next year will lead to a decrease in the time it takes to process work permits. Under the new system, expected to be introduced in the first quarter of 2008, certain categories of work permits will be processed by administrative staff rather than being approved by the Work Permit Board.
Acting Chief Secretary Donovan Ebanks revealed last week that in the last 17 months the government has issued over 41,000 work permits. The breakdown for the period between April 2006 and August 2007 was 10,367 annual permits, 20,729 temporary permits, and 10,521 renewals. He was responding to a question from Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush in the Legislative Assembly.
The government is to set up a set up a review team that will investigate the possibility of applying term limits for foreigners working in government departments. Foreigners working for the government are currently exempt from Cayman’s 7 year limit for work permits.
Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford has announced that the Department of Tourism is to launch a tourism apprenticeship programme. Run in conjunction with the University College of the Cayman Islands it will be primarily aimed at high school students, but will be open to others. The educational aspect will be funded by the government, with the private sector employing enrolled students on a part-time basis.
Expatriate workers will soon have to carry government-issued identity cards. The scheme was introduced several years ago but was shelved in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. New cards are currently being sent out to workers who have successfully applied for a work permit recently.
Chief Immigration Officer Franz Manderson has revealed that 62 foreign workers taking the Department of Immigration’s new English language test have failed. Since it was introduced on November 20 2006, 829 persons taking the test have been successful. Those failing the test cannot commence employment and have to leave the Cayman Islands as soon as possible.
Minister of Employment Alden McLaughlin has announced that the government will be looking at the possibility of introducing minimum wage legislation in the Cayman Islands. At a press briefing last week, he revealed that the government have employed a specialist labour consultant who will also be reviewing current overtime regulations.
Legislation giving Cabinet Ministers the power to determine which job professions qualify for key employee status came into effect yesterday. Foreign workers designated key employees can stay in the Cayman Island for nine years and apply for permanent residence. All others are subject to a maximum stay of 7 years.
Government ministries have been told they can only recruit foreign workers that are already working in the Cayman Islands in exceptional circumstances. The policy, which has been in existence for some time, was reiterated in a circular sent to government officers in January by Peter Gough, Deputy Head of the Civil Service. The circular stated that existing work permit holders can only be recruited after consultation with the Chief Immigration Officer and receipt of a letter of release from the current employer.
Government employees are currently exempt from the 7-year rollover policy. Many are seeing this move as an attempt to thwart any mass movement of work permit holders from the private to public sector.
Changes to the Immigration Law 2003 have been approved by the Legislative Assembly and received the Governor’s ascent. Amendments passed include the rollover policy that requires foreign workers to leave the Cayman Islands after seven years, unless they have been designated key employees by Cabinet Ministers. Key employees can stay up to nine years and apply for permanent residency.
Workers who have left the Cayman Islands due to the rollover policy are also prevented from returning and receiving a new work permit for a period of at least one year. Government employees are exempt from the rollover policy.