Dear Editor,
The recent pronouncements on a proposed approach to work permits, whether we agree with the proposal or not, has resulted in much chatter. Clearly, the current situation is not sustainable but the reality is that we need some foreign workers at every level.
What The Bahamas needs to seek to do is to encourage and facilitate those workers who bring skills and add value as opposed to being burdened with foreign workers who are not paying rent or purchasing homes, not paying for healthcare and education for themselves and their dependents but who are draining our limited resources.
The banking, tourism, insurance and other sectors, while having a significant number of expatriate workers, help to sustain the economic engine of the country. These persons make the maximum contribution to national insurance, they rent or purchase expensive homes and furnishings, they pay or cause to be paid very high school fees for the education of their children and in many cases they employ others such as housekeepers, gardeners, etc. Their activities directly cause the employment of many Bahamians - at every level.
With your indulgence, let me recommend that The Bahamas take the following approach in an effort to reduce the real strain on our limited resources:
o Any work permits granted should not be renewed for more than five consecutive years, save in the most exceptional cases. In the United States, it is six years.
o Any person on a work permit is required to pay for an annual school permit for their minor children. Children of work permit holders must not be a drain on the public education system. The employer must provide confirmation that such children are in the private school system and in possession of the requisite school permit from the Department of Immigration. Teachers with the Catholic Board of Education are required to this. Every work permit holder should be so required. If the children are subsequently placed in the public school system, the parent's permit is subject to revocation.
o All persons on a work permit should be mandated as a condition of their permit approval to have adequate private health insurance. Upon application for renewal, proof of insurance coverage for the prior year would be required. This would apply for any and all dependents as well and would prevent them being a drain on the public health system. This would also benefit the local insurance industry.
o Work permits should not be approved or renewed for persons illegally occupying government land. Should such information be provided, the permit should be immediately revoked and the person subject to deportation.
o The current bond signed with the Department of Immigration should be made a cash bond. Upon proof of the employee no longer being in the country, the bond would be returned to the employer.
Let's stop talking about the problem and let's get serious about fixing it. If we insist on expatriate lower skilled workers, it should be at a premium to the employer and not at the cost of the Bahamian taxpayer.
- JC

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