Locals will not stand for abuse in the workplace- Radio show caller
The discussion on the weekly programme on Thursday September 9, 2016 was at one point centred on the serious issue of locals being pushed aside in the work force.
However, the radio caller used his self as an example, saying that he had to leave a company that he worked for because no overtime was being paid for overtime work done, and while the expatriates would do it, he would not stand for it.
“They [employers] don’t want to pay overtime, they want to collect all the money and look pretty and they want to treat the workers like dogs. If I am working in an overtime period I have to get paid or else I’m not working, straight up. That’s the kind of behaviour that is happening right here in this country,” the male caller said.
According to him, the employers want employees they can manipulate, something locals will not stand for in their own country.
‘Proper work ethic needs to be taught in schools’
Businessman John Samuel agreed that indeed there may be a problem with some locals having poor work ethic, adding that the territory needs to get to the bottom of the issue.
He noted that the reason for him raising the subject is because bad work ethics affect operating costs, which in turn affects product pricing.
Some examples that he gave included staff strolling in after the stipulated time that they are supposed to get to work and then they have to now have their breakfast or go buy it.
He called for the matter to be addressed at the school level.
“I think we need some sort of education now, beginning in the primary schools,” he pointed out.
“We need to address it because BV Islanders are losing traction in the work place. We have people from various areas of the world, different cultures, coming to live among us. Their children are going to learn their work ethics which are apparently more in line with the commercial work. So our children are going to have to compete with their children and we are already losing jobs.”
Employers don’t even want to consider hiring locals
The businessman said the behaviour of the locals has gotten to a point where a lot of employers don’t even want to consider hiring Virgin Islanders. “We have to address it.”
He stated that the issue is one with great consequences.
Expats have a lot more to lose
Meanwhile, Smith argued that he does not hold the view that the problem is solely on the shoulders of the locals since in a lot of instances there are no structured environments, consequences for actions, and proper management in local businesses.
He also pointed out that for the migrant worker who is not at home will put up with a lot more than any local since they do not have families that they can fall back on in case they lose their jobs.
“…When you in a foreign land and you don’t have a parent, or somebody to give you a plate, that you could say if I lose my job I could go by aunty for a while and get something to eat, and so whatever you are told to do, you have to do it, and so one of the things that businesses do, they are able to extract from the migrant worker what they cannot extract from the local worker outside of the job description,” he stated.
The talk show host admitted that the issue is a complex one that needs examining and addressing, but not before he gave a word of caution to the employers.
“The businessmen might think that they are making a whole lot of money and then he can pay the expats what he wants and the expats have a better work ethic… he better watch his back.”
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22 Responses to “Locals will not stand for abuse in the workplace- Radio show caller”
Sounds like Peter island where the expats perform multiple jobs outside their description, cutting the job opportunities for others and the locals who stand up against it are deemed as "hard to deal with"...hopefully some investigation is done...
Did this caller have another job to go to or did he just decide he would rather not work than work under those conditions?
They want yes man/women in high positions and we are spiteful people who can't forgive school days transgressions. The same locals excel in countries where these officials never lived.
The upper level jobs are advertised overseas first. Then they lok at low level jobs and say the people lazy. You can always rationalize your badmind and wickedness but we all know the truth around here
I could bet a local will only see half that salary, despite the local being qualified and trained, its unfortunate that local has to trained the Expat who usually has no knowledge of the basic procedure. This always happens.
That's one reason why locals do not give to $h×$_t about overtime. The BVI needs Employment regulations and I can guarantee you those foreign EMPLOYERS will walk the straight and narrow line if such regulations of Equal Rights and Equal Pay is in the workplace. They will bring all their bad habits to benefit themselves and not the good habits that will benefil all their employees but regardless of their Nationality.
Finally the Government is always up and down implementing and adapting all kind of practices from tlaround the world. Sadly they don't take the time to adapt,research, implement and enforce laws that can protects their locals and ensure that equal diversity is in the workplace.
The BVI is to bias, to much businesses "creeping in the dark and having AFFAIRS".
With a local, these Companies can't do those things so they prefer to hirer someone who they can control and manipulate.