Barbados’ participation in a new free movement regime with other CARICOM member states drew cautious backing in the Senate, with opposition and independent members warning that the landmark policy could strain public resources, drive up living costs and squeeze Barbadian workers unless robust safeguards are put in place.
After declaring vocal support for the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Nationals) Bill, two senators raised fears of social and economic pressures following the new regime which took effect on October 1 among Belize, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.
Speaking for the opposition as the landmark bill was debated in the Senate, Senator Andre Worrell said the measure may deliver benefits to employers but could undercut local labour and depress wages if not carefully managed with robust oversight.
“I believe that businesses are looking forward to it because some businesses see it as an opportunity to expand their workforce and to possibly have cheaper labour coming into the country,” he said. “Unfortunately, people are more geared by profit than they are by social responsibility if they see a responsibility to lower their costs… they will employ persons at a lower rate than what they currently employ persons at.”
Senator Worrell argued that even amid the government’s messaging about a construction “boom”, many Barbadians are not reaping the benefits.
“When you visit many of those construction sites, the persons who you see being employed… they’re not Barbadians. In fact, I’ve even heard one of the largest contractors in Barbados made reference to the fact that they have to employ interpreters to work with the staff that they’re bringing in.”
He charged that this scenario leaves young Barbadians further disillusioned. “That is a disservice to the young people of Barbados who feel as though they’re living in a Barbados where they no longer have any opportunities.”
The senator also alleged that some contractors are paying foreign labourers below informal entry-level norms. “You have some of those work sites where labourers are being paid less than that $80 to $100 a day – sometimes as low as $60 – even though it is understood that they may have entered a quotation for more….There are some people that will say the young people don’t want work, [but] they turn up to these same job sites and then are told that they have to work for that below-standard wage.”
Independent Senator Kevin Boyce, while also giving verbal backing for the bill, stressed that integration inevitably carries fiscal and social costs.
“When we talk about integration, we need to recognise that there will be risks,” he said. “There is a strain on national resources as a result of regional integration. This is a fact. The resources which will be impacted are healthcare… there is going to be an impact on the educational resources – this is a fact.”
He suggested that housing and cost-of-living pressures loomed. “Rents increase, supply and demand. It was stated recently that there has been a huge uptick in the rental cost…. The point is the cost of living goes up, the cost of housing goes up – you have more people competing for a limited resource.”
Senator Boyce concluded that “there will be positives, there will be negatives” and urged policymakers to plan for both.
(SB)
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