WHEN THE Sunday Gleaner broke the news of wire-taps and drug-running, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Donald Buchanan and his Permanent Secretary, Anthony Irons, were away in the United States. The Minister has brought back some good news to lighten the gloom enshrouding a nation facing a crisis of confidence.
Both men visited Jamaican hotel workers and their employers in Michigan and agricultural workers in Vermont and the state of New York. The word brought home, so much better than another loan, is that some 15 resorts in one city in Michigan want more Jamaican hotels under the Hospitality (H2B) Programme.
For decades the Overseas Farm Work Programme has been a lifeline to many Jamaican individuals and families and a boost to the entire economy. The more recent addition of the Hotel Workers Programme has created opportunities for hospitality workers. Overseas work has long been an escape hatch from an economy with a chronic "oversupply" of labour, and a safety valve for the whole society.
While we are pushing a sixth year of unbroken economic decline - something of a world record - the US economy continues to enjoy its longest boom in its entire history. Unemployment is now at its lowest in 30 years. Although there was some slowing last quarter, the economy is still clipping along at a brisk pace. One of the benefits to the rest of the world is the absorption of migrant labour. The US government, under lobby pressure from growth industries, has just raised the quota for the admission of skilled workers for whom tens of thousands of jobs are waiting.
Quite apart from the attractive differential in salaries between the US and Jamaica, it is not likely that the local Tourism and Hospitality sector will be absorbing more labour any time soon. Last winter season was anaemic, and the upcoming season, only six weeks away, shows no prospect of being much better. The whole economy, in fact, is squeezing out previously employed labour. Minister Buchanan's triumphant message is indeed a bit of refreshing good news.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
