The Caribbean Policy Research Institute, CAPRI, is recommending the liberalisation of Jamaica’s immigration policies to attract more labour from overseas.
The recommendation forms part of the institute’s latest study focused on solving the labour shortage.
The study, titled ‘Brain Gain: Solving the Labour Shortage and Competing for Global Talent’, was launched on Wednesday.
Tauna Thomas reports.
That was Prime Minister Andrew Holness on November 7, 2023.
According to CAPRI’s researcher, Priya Alexander, the study shows a shortage of labour in particular sectors.
The study also revealed a shortage of low-level skilled labourers in the quick service industry, such as restaurants and other clerical jobs.
According to the study, Jamaica has the third-lowest share of immigrants in its population in the Caribbean, ahead of only Cuba and Haiti. That figure is 0.8 per cent.
Ms. Alexander says CAPRI is calling for the loosening of Jamaica’s immigration policy to allow more people from overseas to fill job vacancies.
Among its recommendations is the elimination of the requirement for a work permit to specify the name of an employer and the place an immigrant intends to work.
CAPRI is further recommending the elimination of the fees associated with holding an approved work permit.
CAPRI is also recommending that Jamaica’s National Visa Policy, now under development, establish a category of visas that allows highly skilled citizens of any country to move to Jamaica for 3–12 months and search for a job, provided they meet certain conditions.
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