Businesses in the Cayman Islands are doing a disservice to our teenagers.
They’re hiring foreigners and taking out work permits for employees to do jobs that teens could easily do.
We’re talking about stocking store shelves, checking groceries, pumping gasoline and the like.
According to the Cayman Islands Education Law, children between the ages of 10 and 16 years are not allowed to work during the time periods when schools are in session. They may work a maximum of two hours during the school week.
During periods when schools are not in session, they may legally work a maximum of eight hours on any day and six days in any week.
Children older than 16 can work any time and those going to university here in Cayman could use part time jobs to help meet expenses.
By hiring expats to do these jobs, which should be attached to a minimum wage, we are robbing our children of the chance to learn work ethics.
A minimum wage would put Caymanians on par with expatriates when it comes to wages and, we think, reduce the need for expats.
But it’s about more than money.
Teens that work learn early on what it means to have a job, to show up on time and perform to their highest level.
Those skills will carry them throughout their lives, whether they pursue a higher education or rise through the ranks of the company they are with.
Many Baby Boomers in the Cayman Islands started working as young teens doing various things, such as working at flooring companies, cashiering, pumping gas and the like.
And before that our grandparents and forefathers worked in the bush, fished, thatched – they did all manner of things to live and make a living at teens.
Parents should insist their teens find jobs during the summer months and on school holidays.
And if they can’t find jobs outside the homes, teens should be given chores and duties to help out around the house.
We owe it to the future generations of our country to make sure they know how to get a job and keep it.
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