Bad for business
SO... I receive a CV from a young man from South Africa via Australia and who is travelling around Europe. He has a working visa for Europe and has 11 months remaining on it. He hears from his friend who worked for me that I am looking for staff and she tells him how great Guernsey is and to apply for a job.
Long story short... Housing in essence don’t have an issue issuing a permit, however I have to speak to Immigration as he would require clearance.
Immigration are helpful with their monotone voices and all welcoming positivity (not) and inform me that the person concerned does not meet the criteria (level of status) to gain entry to Guernsey.
So bearing in mind how tough hospitality are finding recruitment, and that we can’t recruit local people as we don’t pay enough and those on the Social aren’t interested in working in hospitality (hours aren’t right, don’t pay enough and the list is endless), I am also told that I can’t employ this young man as he doesn’t meet the criteria.
My criteria is... he’s willing to work, he doesn’t have a criminal record, he’s not taking a local job (as I have complied with the regulations and no one local has applied)... oh and in case I forgot to mention it, he is ‘willing’ to work.
Am I missing something...We want staff, we would love locals but we can’t get them for various reasons, and we have employees past and present telling friends Guernsey is great, but because they don’t meet the criteria we can’t let them in.
Maybe the answer is to send all non-indigenous Guerns home and then we can see who does the gardening jobs, waitressing jobs and cleaning jobs.
Name and address withheld.