NASSAU, Bahamas — A decrease in the number of labor certificate applications may not mean fewer foreigners are applying to work in The Bahamas, according to Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation CEO Edison Sumner, who said foreign laborers are more than likely circumventing the labor department and applying to work in the country through the Commercial Enterprises Act, the Nassau Guardian reported September 7.
Earlier this week Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes said the reduction in labor certificate applications translated to more jobs in the market for Bahamians.
However, Sumner said because of the introduction of the Commercial Enterprises Act, many foreigners are actually applying directly for licensing under that act, where they don’t have to go through the traditional means of applying for jobs or applying for work permits – because of provisions already in the act that allow them to be short-circuited. https://thenassauguardian.com/2018/09/07/chamber-monitoring-increase-in-foreign-labor-under-commercial-enterprises-act/
