Labor and Employment Services Department Addresses Worker Shortage and Prioritizes Turks and Caicos Islanders

The Labor and Employment Services Department acknowledges the current shortage of workers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a situation amplified by the significant increase in development projects across the nation.

Recognizing its dual mandate, the Department emphasizes its unwavering commitment to ensuring fair treatment and prioritizing employment opportunities for all Turks and Caicos Islanders. By law, Turks and Caicos Islanders must be given the first opportunity for available job positions within the country.

While acknowledging the potential need for supplementary migrant workers to support ongoing developments, the Labor and Employment Services Department strongly urges all employers and the wider public to prioritize qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for all job openings.

To effectively facilitate this process and gain a comprehensive understanding of the local workforce, the Labor and Employment Services Department is actively registering unemployed and underemployed Turks and Caicos Islanders. This vital initiative will allow the Department to identify available skill sets within the TCI, significantly aiding in the thorough vetting of employment applications.

“This Government remains resolute in its commitment to placing Turks and Caicos Islanders at the forefront of national development”, said Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Hon. Jamell Robinson.

“The priority is, and will always be, to ensure our people are afforded every opportunity to participate meaningfully in the labor market. We will continue to enforce the policies and laws that safeguard this principle, and we urge all stakeholders to do the same. The prosperity of these Islands must begin with the empowerment of its people.”

The Department wishes to remind the public of the guidelines it adheres to when reviewing applications for migrant workers, ensuring that such applications are considered only when a genuine need has been established after due consideration of the local workforce.

The Labor and Employment Services Department remains dedicated to fostering a fair and equitable labor market that benefits all residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We encourage all Turks and Caicos Islanders to register with us at jobregistration@gov.tc to ensure their skills and availability are known, contributing to the growth and prosperity of our nation.