By January 2006, qualified citizens of all 13 member states of the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) will be able to work in any member country without seeking work permits.
Robert Miller, head of the CSME Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, issued an announcement stating that some member states had already removed all restrictions on the movement of skilled labor and services across the CARICOM region, and that the remaining states would follow suit by January 2006.
Under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, a citizen of a CARICOM member state is automatically a CARICOM national, and has the right to work in all member states without obtaining a work permit. Before seeking employment or setting up services in member states, however, the individual must contact the Labor Ministry.
The applicant would then be granted a CARICOM skills certificate which would serve as verification to the immigration officials in the host country that the individual had met requirements within one of the six approved categories of wage-earners.
The six approved categories include: graduates from all recognized universities in the world; artists; musicians; athletes; media workers; managers, technical and supervisory staff attached to a company or self-employed people.
A work permit would be required for those individuals who do not fall within any of the above-named categories.
Generally, the documents that are necessary as prerequisites for the skills certificate process include: proof of qualification (original or certified copy of educational certificates); proof of nationality (passport); and three pictures (certified by a Justice of Peace).
Under the provisions, a CARICOM national carrying a skills certificate should not be subjected to “any restriction on freedom of movement; discriminatory selection in filling vacancies; or any restriction to acquire property for use as residence.”
It was emphasized that a separate application was required for permanent residence or the naturalization process in the host country.
