Jamaica Prime Minister hints at importing skilled labor to Jamaica
Key Points(5)
- Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness has once again hinted at the possibility of importing skilled workers to address the shortage of workers on the island.
- While speaking at the launch of a new US$30-million production line at Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Bottling Company, Holness addressed the prospect of a policy for the importation of skilled labor.
- “There are calls in certain quarters in the private sector who say Jamaica may very well have to consider if its economic growth potential continues at this pace; that we may have to have a program of controlled entry of workers from overseas to supplement our labor force”, Holness said.
- "If we continue to grow and our growth base increases, we will use up those who are outside (the labor force), maybe in the next five years, six years, or even 10 years; but you can’t wait till that point in the future to make policies for that time.
- You have to be thinking ahead,” he argued.
Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness has once again hinted at the possibility of importing skilled workers to address the shortage of workers on the island.
Several business leaders in the private sector including Chairman of the Margaritaville Caribbean Group Ian Dear and Deputy Chairman of Chukka Caribbean John Byles have recently called for the government to consider implementing a program to import skilled labor to meet the demand, specifically in the hospitality sector.
While speaking at the launch of a new US$30-million production line at Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Bottling Company, Holness addressed the prospect of a policy for the importation of skilled labor.
“There are calls in certain quarters in the private sector who say Jamaica may very well have to consider if its economic growth potential continues at this pace; that we may have to have a program of controlled entry of workers from overseas to supplement our labor force”, Holness said.
"If we continue to grow and our growth base increases, we will use up those who are outside (the labor force), maybe in the next five years, six years, or even 10 years; but you can’t wait till that point in the future to make policies for that time. You have to be thinking ahead,” he argued.
He acknowledged that the importation of workers to Jamaica is a controversial concept, but urged critics to consider the alternatives before dismissing the idea.
“I really hope that Jamaica's commentators take the time to research before they comment on this issue as to the various growth strategies that were employed in the past and that our neighbors around us are employing," Holness said.
The Prime Minister said the island's current labor shortage is a "national emergency."
Record unemployment rate
His comments come against the background of Jamaica’s record unemployment rate of 4.5 percent, according to data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) released in August.
However, according to Holness, the unemployment rate does not take into account Jamaicans who aren't looking for work or who have otherwise opted to stay outside the labor force. He said these citizens are usually the ones who get caught up in illegal activities.
“They are the ones who are getting themselves into problems. They are the ones committing crime, and they are the victims themselves,” he said.
The Prime Minister said his administration wants to get all citizens who can work to develop a work ethic and skills that make them functional.
Read: Jamaica Opposition voices concern over plans to import skilled labor
