WORC scrapping JobsCayman portal

The government’s Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman is replacing its beleaguered JobsCayman portal, an online job ad system.

In an announcement Monday afternoon that gave users fewer than three days’ notice of the closure of the portal, WORC announced that, from Wednesday night, 29 May, it would no longer be available.

A temporary online service will be operating until a new system to replace JobsCayman is put in place in June, the department stated.

The JobsCayman portal, which has been handling payments, job seeker and employer registrations, the posting of job vacancy ads, and job applications, has been criticised by employers and potential employees as being slow and difficult to navigate.

Last year, WORC Director Jeremy Scott, in an interview with the Compass, said the JobsCayman portal would be scrapped and replaced “with a new design, a new facelift” with the aim to make it more customer friendly.

The Ministry of Border Control and Labour later confirmed to the Compass that the overhaul of the system was expected to cost $1.3 million – 14 times the price of the original JobsCayman portal, which cost $92,465 to set up.

As well as replacing the jobs portal, WORC is also relocating its customer service from Apollo House West to Artemis House, at 67 Fort Street in George Town, from Monday, 3 June, where services including payments, submission of applications and passport endorsement stamps will be carried out.

Temporary replacement

With the JobsCayman portal going offline, another site offering reduced online services will be available from Monday, 3 June, according to the WORC release.

It noted that this site will be temporary and will allow for final developing and testing of a new WORC jobs and online payment service, which it anticipates will launch on 18 June.

While employers can still post work ads and job seekers can still search and apply for jobs on the WORC website, payments cannot be made online in the temporary system. Instead, all payments must be made in person at the new WORC office at Artemis House.

Customers submitting three or more applications are advised to use the corporate drop box to reduce wait times, WORC said.

“Customer Care Officers will be on hand to review documents and ensure drop off is handled as efficiently as possible,” the release stated.

WORC is also advising that customers can park at the Apollo House West parking lot and follow the signs for Artemis House.

All other WORC services will remain at Apollo House West, including the Employment Services Unit and Training and Development Unit for Caymanians seeking work and training.

Passport endorsement stamps for immediate travel

During the transition of services, WORC is asking only individuals with immediate travel plans who want to secure a passport endorsement stamp to do so within 10 days of travelling.

“This measure will assist WORC in managing the high demand of this service as the summer approaches and persons’ travel plans increase. Person are also reminded that a valid permit licence can also be used as a travel document,” WORC stated.

It noted that its contact details remain the same – 945-9672 or toll-free 1-800-534-9672 or [email protected].