Philippines nationals are better workers – BVI business owners

British Virgin Islands: BVInews.com reported that local business owners now prefer to recruit nationals from the Republic of the Philippines because they are more discipline, diligent and have customer-oriented personalities.

One employer told BVInews.com that most employers are fed up with the attitude of Caribbean nationals, who have bad attitudes. He said “They come and expect a silver spoon in their mouths. They want this and that and their attitude stinks. Then they run to Labour and get a new work permit. The system has changed a lot, so every employer is now looking toward the Asian market for workers”. He noted that the cost of recruiting a Filipino national is very costly which ranges from $2,000 to $6,000 depending on which recruitment company you use in the Philippines.

Another local employer said that although the cost to recruit is high, the sacrifice is worth it. “Having a Filipino worker is like hitting the jackpot. I hired one couple months ago and it was the best thing that happened to my business… She is never late for work… always early, does not get involved in office gossip, does not complain about her salary, does not overstay lunch hours and always voluntarily works over time… With an attitude like that there is no victimization and I am motivated to give her a raise in salary,” he explained.

“I remember 25 years ago Guyanese, Jamaicans and Vincentians were the preferred choice of recruits but now a lot of people are now getting turned off. They are getting too lazy, and now demanding higher salaries… a lot of instances they run to Labour and Immigration with fictitious stories… worst they jump from job to job,” the employer added.

Most of the Philippines national working in the BVI are accountants, graphic and web designers, programmers and engineers.

Another employer said he always gets good feedback from customers and explained that, “A few years ago my friend was encouraging me to recruit from the Philippines but I thought it was not necessary, it was too far, too costly and they wouldn’t fit culturally… but one day I visited his business and was surprised by the high level of customer service I received from his Asian workers. You are greeted with a smile. Sometimes they cannot speak proper English but they are always armed with a smile and ‘thank you’, ‘have a nice day’ is always on the cards… It is so refreshing based on what we get from some of our own people. No sour face and stink attitude… Based on that I decided to recruit and I have never been disappointed since”.