The Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Labour, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, has delivered a short but passionate address in which he underscored his Ministry’s concern for hospitality workers in particular.
Speaking at the Government’s State of the Nation town hall meeting, Mr. Hodge said: “First, I would like to reassure our workforce, particularly those in the hospitality sector, that the Ministry and Department of Labour are very closely monitoring the prevailing conditions in the labour market.
“I continue to give carefully scrutiny and consideration to each work permit that crosses my desk, and I can assure you that we will continue to ensure that the interests of Angullians are maintained in this labour market. I would like to touch, for a few minutes, on the under-study programme. Part of every work permit carries an under-study component. That means that we grant an expatriate worker the opportunity to come to Anguilla to fill a niche/a need that is perceived not to be present in Anguilla. We grant such persons a work permit under the condition that they train an Anguillian with the necessary skills, knowledge, abilities and whatever else is necessary, to fulfil that position in the shortest possible time. It is our experience, so far, that is being abused particularly in the hospitality sector and I am very clear and candid.
“We are very happy to welcome our investors to our country. We thank you for your investments- and we are happy to provide the necessary incentives and concessions to enable you to make handsome returns on your investments. But, at the end of the day, the development of our people will always be centre-stage of Government’s plans and programmes.
“This is why we will be paying particular attention to the understudy programme – moving forward. I can assure you that we will be making the necessary policy and legislative changes to ensure that we give this provision teeth – particularly in this market we are in today, when so many of our Anguillian workers are on the breadline. We have to ensure that we skill-up our workers to give them the ability to take up these positions when they become available.”
