The coconuts, water rafts, mud rubs, reggae music, and good vibes have made Jamaica one of the top tourist destinations. But whose work makes it all possible?
The workers in Jamaica’s hotels, resorts, shops, and restaurants work long hours without overtime, their wages are delayed, and they are constantly overlooked for management jobs that go to expats who often end up exploiting their Jamaican subordinates.
Jamaican researchers have drawn parallels between chattel slavery on sugar plantations and “wage slavery” in tourism. Sugar production was once one of the island’s biggest revenue drivers, and now it’s been replaced by tourism. Yet, locals get hardly any of the billions of dollars of that annual revenue.
Workers’ protests against unfair labor practices and mistreatment have been ignored for years. And tourists themselves are part of the problem. Many tourists complained about Hurricane Melissa ruining their vacation, as if Jamaican servers and housekeepers controlled the weather.
When we visit Jamaica, we should treat the island and its people with respect and continue to support it after we leave.