By the Caribbean Journal

Cayman’s business community is opposing the government’s proposed attempt at passing a bill regulating gender equality in the workplace.

According to the text of a letter the government received from the Cayman Islands Law Society, Cayman businesses are anxious over the impacts of the law.

“The Chamber supports anti-discrimination legislation, but the bill, as drafted, will increase the cost of doing business and adds more red tape at a time when businesses are struggling to keep their costs under control,” said Jim O’Neill, president of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “We strongly recommend that government withdraw the bill.”

The letter was supported by the Caymanian Bar Association, along with several other organizations.

It would make it illegal for anyone to discriminate in either employment, pay or opportunity based on gender. The Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association also submitted a separate letter expressing concerns over the bill.