BAC: Skills certificate still required despite new CARICOM free movement rules

Barbadians will still need a CARICOM Skills Certificate to work in most CARICOM member states, the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC) has confirmed, as four countries prepare to allow full free movement from next month.

From October 1, nationals of Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines will be able to live, work and access public services in each other’s countries without a skills certificate or work permit.

The BAC confirmed that all existing skills certificates remain valid and will continue to be necessary for entry into other CARICOM member states.

Executive Director Lisa Gale said in a statement: “The skills certificate remains essential for all in the region. As a matter of fact, it is the key to opportunities in CARICOM, especially among those who are not ordinarily certificated. Our role at the BAC is to ensure Barbadian qualifications are recognised and protected.”

She described the new arrangement as a “progressive step that strengthens the free movement of our regional human capital”, but pointed out that the remaining CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) participating member countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago – will continue to require the CARICOM skills certificate as the “recognised pathway” for skilled workers.

Under the new pilot programme, Barbadians will also be entitled to emergency and primary healthcare, and to public education at the primary and secondary levels in the participating states, on the same basis as citizens.

Under the contingent rights principle, national insurance pensions are also expected to be portable, with contributions in the host country being counted and payments being made accordingly.

“This represents a significant broadening of entitlements under the free movement regime, extending beyond employment access to basic social protections and services,” the BAC statement read.

The council reminded Barbadians that the skills certificates which it issues remain recognised across the wider Caribbean Community, and the BAC will continue to provide verification and recognition services for all qualifications.

The new free movement arrangement will be seen as a pilot, with the possibility of expansion to other CARICOM states in the future. (SM)