Immigration and Labour reform was identified as a top priority issue during this year’s Prioritisation Survey. The survey was completed by a cross-section of business owners and managers from the Chamber membership, with a total of 53 respondents from 600. The respondents were asked to highlight priorities within areas of business, community, infrastructure, and government.
The most important business needs identified by our respondents were the costs incurred when doing business and business growth. Managing employees and business marketing was also flagged up as being important.
Unsurprisingly, education standards and crime-and-safety were selected as the most important community issues. Family and youth at risk was also identified as a priority concern.
Infrastructure responses saw that waste management was of concern to many of our 53 respondents. Remediation of the George Town landfill was also raised, tying in with the worries of waste. The rapid growth of technology was also apparent in this year’s survey. Internet speed, access, and reliability was listed as the most important infrastructure issue.
In relation to government, the cross-section of our membership who participated in this survey wanted to see the development of a National Strategic Plan. They also expressed a desire for the enforcement of pre-existing legislation and for public sector reform.
However, when asked to select only one issue for the Chamber Council to focus on, our respondents indicated that immigration and labour reform was the top priority. The costs of doing business came a close second.
Whilst it is apparent that business needs and growth are consistently flagged with the highest priority, it is immigration reform that is of the utmost importance in this year’s survey. With our new Strategic Plan and committee structure we will discuss some of the pivotal areas identified in this survey.