There seems to be much uncertainty about how a household domestic can apply for and receive a certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a skilled worker. Persons falling into the category of household domestics will be allowed to live and work in Caricom member states without work permits from January 1; artisans were also included in this arrangement.
At the 30th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caricom held in Guyana from July 2-5 this year, heads made a decision to include household domestics among the categories of workers allowed to move freely in the region under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
It was President Bharrat Jagdeo, as Caricom Chair-man, who announced that as of January 1, 2010, household domestics who have obtained the appropriate qualifications will be allowed to move freely across the region. The appropriate qualification was identified as a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) or equivalent.
Antigua and Barbuda and Belize were allowed to opt out of this arrangement and were not required to sign on to the extension which would include household domestics until the conclusion of socio-economic impact studies of the migrant situation in their countries are conducted. The Caricom Secretariat is to expedite the studies.
In this regard too, Antigua and Barbuda was granted a five-year derogation on the free movement of household domestics, “in order for it to make the necessary adjustments to its infrastructure and other imperatives to facilitate the fulfilment of its treaty obligation with respect to the free movement of skills,” Jagdeo had told a late-night press conference following the close of the meeting here.
Stabroek News recently contacted Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues about the ministry’s readiness to issue the certificates once the right documentation is produced. She advised that the Ministry of Education had the responsibility for the issuance of the CVQ.
She was unable to say definitively whether Guyana was technically ready to be on board and do its part to facilitate the free travel of this new category of skilled workers.
Contacted, Education Minister Shaik Baksh was also not definitive in his responses.
However, he told Stabroek News that the ministry has a team which is working along with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in this regard. He added that the team is to also look at the CVQ and other aspects of the arrangement.
He explained that while the Foreign Affairs Ministry was in charge, his ministry was lending technical advice.
He further stated that artisans would have to acquire certain qualifications in the technical-vocational area, which is competency based and which would have to be standardized across the Caribbean. However, he said while he knew about artisans, he could not speak for household domestics.
It is still not clear how an ordinary domestic who is interested in working in a Caricom member state can apply for and be granted a skill-certificate. Neither minister divulged the exact criteria that would apply.
When Jagdeo spoke back in July in his capacity as Caricom Chairman, he told reporters that leaders have recognized that free movement is an essential element of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), but given the current economic crisis “its full implementation at this point in time will be challenging for some member states.”
He said they have also noted that migration is a human right, though circumscribed by domestic law, and recognized that in keeping with the spirit of the treaty and the requisites of international law all migrants must be accorded humane treatment.
Heads had also re-affirmed that all eligible categories of skilled community nationals must be granted definite entry of six months if they present their skill-certificate at a point of entry and that they have the right to work immediately. During that period the receiving country has the right to verify the qualification of the skilled nationals, he added, and once that was satisfactorily completed, an indefinite stay would be granted.
The leaders also noted that persons who are moving to exercise the right of establishment, the provision of services and the movement of skills have the right to move with their spouses and immediate dependent family members.
He added that the schedule of free movement of persons would be reviewed at the CSME Convocation to be convened later this year with a view to advising on the timetable for full free movement.
Jagdeo also said that leaders had recalled the decision made in 2007 to grant Antigua and Barbuda an exemption on the free movement of non-graduate teachers and nurses. He said countries must put in place the necessary arrangements to issue the certificate of recognition of Caricom skilled qualifications to nationals who are eligible.
“Countries must put in place the necessary arrangements to issue the certificate of registration as Caricom service provider to service providers who are moving on a temporary basis [inter-island traders],” Jagdeo added.
