For years in Jamaica, we have tolerated the practice of what I call "the appropriating of jobs." Whenever there is a change of government many qualified and experienced workers lose their jobs at the directive of people with political connections. These jobs are given to others who are favoured by those with the political connections. Both political parties are guilty of this.
The appropriating of jobs is wrong. It is a dishonest response to Jamaica's unemployment problem. It is corrupt. It is damaging. So I am calling out this practice.
Job appropriating is so common that it is a cocktail party joke. With every change of government, we expect it, as if it is a respectable tradition. We have resigned ourselves to it.
But this tradition hurts people. To lose one's livelihood is emotionally and financially devastating. It suddenly becomes difficult to pay bills and repay debts. It becomes a struggle to pay for necessities like food, shelter, transportation and education. It becomes impossible to save and invest. Consider these effects multiplied thousands of times, while they ripple through the economy. The bankruptcy or prosperity of workers affects businesses because every worker is a customer in various ways.
There is nothing good about appropriating jobs. It only breeds disillusionment, despair, and desperation. It does not solve the unemployment problem. Even those workers who benefit from job appropriation must be aware that their job security is tied to the whims of the electorate, although those workers' names were not on any ballots. How can any ordinary worker plan a prosperous or progressive life in a culture of job appropriating?
I invite every Jamaican to join me in ending job appropriation. There are three things we can do.
Firstly, if you have been victimised by job appropriation, stand up for yourself. Report it to the Ministry of Labour, regardless of when it happened. The breaking of employment contracts without just cause has legal consequences.
Secondly, job appropriation is neither a casual nor laughing matter. By resigning ourselves to it or laughing it off we are giving our assent to it. We must stop doing this.
Thirdly, our political leaders must agree that job appropriating is wrong and they will not do it nor tolerate it. Granted, it may be hard to prevent the politically connected from rewarding their favourites, but it should never be done at the expense of workers.
Let us denounce the appropriating of jobs. Do not practise it or tolerate it. There is no way that a vision for development can be achieved in an atmosphere of job appropriating.
"Justice, truth be ours forever."
Dawn Marie Roper, Kingston, Jamaica
