Bahamas warns against illegal hiring of foreigners
NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — Bahamas immigration authorities have warned employers against hiring people who are not authorised to work in the country.
“This is regardless of whether that person has a visitor’s visa or a seaman’s visa for the duration of their stay in The Bahamas pursuant to entry on such a visa,” the Department of Immigration said in a statement.
It said that that while a visitor seaman “may walk about the environs of the town and use public facilities”, they cannot be hired for work in the Bahamas without a work permit.
“Work includes selling goods or buying or collecting goods for the purposes of export and gain,” the Department said, noting that officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Customs Department have the powers of immigration officers.
“Where there is a reasonable suspicion that an individual in the Bahamas has violated Immigration laws, those officials can exercise the lawful authority to question or detain that individual and can do so… where the circumstances warrant it.”
The Department said there will be greater scrutiny to avoid the violation of immigration laws.
