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'Laid-off' expatriates can stay in VI up to 6 months- Hon Wheatley

- only terminated workers being asked to leave Territory if unable to find alternative employment
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) said only terminated expatriate workers are being asked to leave the Territory at this time; however, those who are laid-off will fall in an entirely different category, subject to different labour policies. Photo: VINO/File
Companies with 'laid off' workers have up to 6 months to pay severance. Photo: VINO/File
Companies with 'laid off' workers have up to 6 months to pay severance. Photo: VINO/File
Some terminated expatriate workers will be able to stay in the Territory up to three months to find another job through a Conditional Work Permit. Photo: VINO/File
Some terminated expatriate workers will be able to stay in the Territory up to three months to find another job through a Conditional Work Permit. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) said only terminated expatriate workers are being asked to leave the Territory at this time; however, those who are laid-off will fall in an entirely different category, subject to different labour policies.

"Some folks are laid off, but not terminated... but if you are terminated, that category specifically... and can't find another job to be gainfully employed at this time, we are asking you simply to consider going home or to go home," Hon Wheatley said. 

COVID-19 & work permits 

The Minister was at the time speaking as a guest on the July 14, 2020, edition of the 'Honestly Speaking' radio show alongside moderator Claude O. Skelton-Cline when he underscored that 'laid-off' does not necessarily mean a person is terminated from the job.

"Some employers have employees that they really really want to keep, because they have historical knowledge, institutional knowledge, but they simply can't afford to pay them now."

According to Hon Wheatley, those persons can be placed under the laid-off category, with the opportunity to get re-hired in 6 months.

"They want them around so when things pick up, I can bring this expert... to work for me."

He said for the companies with 'laid off' workers, they have up to 6 months to pay severance.

6 months hold on severance pay 

During that time, the employee would be under 'laid off' status and could seek alternative employment elsewhere, on condition that the Labour and Immigration departments are notified as well as employees agreeing to the terms.

Hon Wheatley explained that normally, while persons would not be allowed to work at another company under the original work permit, he said with the 6-month reserved severance, it would give their original employer 6 months to re-hire the individual, and if not, only then severance is paid.

As part of announcements at the House of Assembly sitting on Friday, July 10, 2020, Hon Wheatley said some terminated foreign workers will be able to stay in the Territory up to three months to find another job through a Conditional Work Permit.

He noted that work permits; however, will only be granted to individuals and companies that have up to date payments with National Health Insurance and the Social Security Board.

46 Responses to “'Laid-off' expatriates can stay in VI up to 6 months- Hon Wheatley”

  • Local (15/07/2020, 12:18) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply

    People that have been later off can they still pay there bills without asking for help. Where they going to find jobs from most of them were from the tourism sector which is no time coming back so let's stop fooling around . The long they remain the more they have to spend were as they could have return home until things get better the longer they stay the more they lose.

    • @ LOCAL (15/07/2020, 12:36) Like (8) Dislike (22) Reply
      Them need to go I don’t know why them having them stay here longer setta ghetto people here need to go
    • fish (15/07/2020, 12:41) Like (9) Dislike (10) Reply
      That makes no sense keeping them here for that line period of time give them 2 months to leave
      • Sea (15/07/2020, 14:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        well thay have been laid off from March 31st soneed to leave by October 1st so thats only 2 1/2 months so nearly there
  • Come on (15/07/2020, 12:19) Like (12) Dislike (23) Reply
    That’s too long keeping them island people here.
    • @ Come on (15/07/2020, 12:37) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
      All of y’all comments will get the most dislike because them island people does be on vino waiting to dislike
    • rewrsdffds (16/07/2020, 09:16) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      I think you really need to stop. No local person speaks that way. You are merely infiltrating hate, and this is not the place for it.
  • Smith son (15/07/2020, 12:20) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
    Why 6 months when they can’t pay bills nor taxes because they have no jobs but yet hanging along just to get unemployment cheques.
  • Missy (15/07/2020, 12:22) Like (7) Dislike (14) Reply
    The Caucasians could support themselves because the type of jobs they had high quality paid jobs but the ones from other Caribbean islands didn’t had no stable jobs they can’t support themselves here in the bvi
    • @ missy (15/07/2020, 12:38) Like (9) Dislike (17) Reply
      So true them island people does clean bathroom and thing barley making good money so I know them bank accounts don’t have a thing them done does send everything down the island
      • BuzzBvi (15/07/2020, 14:25) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
        Minus 7% plus charges
      • Funny (15/07/2020, 14:54) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
        my downisland cook makes $42,000 plus tips plus free accommodation with utilities paid so missy I think your wrong
  • Landlord (15/07/2020, 12:22) Like (8) Dislike (13) Reply
    Six more months of excuses from these island people who can’t pay them rents
    • Agree landlord (15/07/2020, 12:39) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
      I agree 100% honestly now they have so much excuse oh they don’t have no job so they can’t pay them need to leave if that’s the case
    • @ landlord (15/07/2020, 12:40) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
      Yes you said it right!!! But yet they ready to send home thousands back home
    • Nationalist (16/07/2020, 13:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      As a landlord I will not be owed any more rent this is the last straw out up or get put out it's that simple
  • Urinea (15/07/2020, 12:24) Like (18) Dislike (11) Reply
    Why the government trying to make these people feel better they cannot vote they’re not affecting y’all or the economy them have no jobs how will they pay taxes. Send them out one way ticket down the island
    • be careful (15/07/2020, 16:20) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Urinea treat people the way you would like to be treated. Would you like people to see you and dirty wicked son of a bitch. No. Well remember the world is a circle. All island people are not the same. Sure their are bad, even rotten one, but some are decent hard working people.
  • Really (15/07/2020, 12:25) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    More money for unemployment cheques now for thee island people
    • blah (15/07/2020, 12:44) Like (12) Dislike (7) Reply
      More crime now they will continue to thief because they have no money no jobs
    • LCS (16/07/2020, 06:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      If they contributed to Soc. Sec., they are entitled to it.
      • HMMM (16/07/2020, 09:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Do we have an unemployment benefit? No. You contribute to the system to receive pension, sickness, maternity benefits. By the time they pay you will not receive a dime at 65.
  • make sense (15/07/2020, 12:26) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    1000 jobs in 1000 days for locals can still be achieved let these island people go to get locals in them positions ASAP.
  • fahie (15/07/2020, 12:28) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Who going rent the apartments when they go them like to say so when y’all leave we will be the judge of that lot of locals looking place but ayo down islanders done take them over
    • @ fahie (15/07/2020, 12:43) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Lol you said it right let us be the judge if that when them leave
  • Creque (15/07/2020, 12:29) Like (9) Dislike (8) Reply
    Finally clean up the town and market square when them go. That area where them does gather look so dirty and ghetto
    • To Creque (15/07/2020, 12:43) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      Yes strongly agree they got the place looking nasty all gathered up in a circle especially them construction workers
  • Jackie (15/07/2020, 12:46) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    Them island people scared them running looking jobs now lol
  • Dr cool (15/07/2020, 12:56) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is nonsense you don’t want my island people here say you don’t want them don’t come with Nancy story come straight up some of who chatting bullshit cannot vote do a polling and see how much of we support this
  • Bree (15/07/2020, 14:47) Like (19) Dislike (6) Reply
    Can someone explain to my why some many of you oppose going back to your home country. You all brag about what your country have compare to the BVI but yet still afraid to go home. Many of you wish all evil to befall this country and the locals but still want to be here like it will skip over non locals. You call us backwards and bad minded but still here. Begging up and down, bailing you cant pay your bills, rent and don't have much money to maintain your self but still refuse to go home. You call down our education system, our healthcare, say local lazy and we're imbreed but yet you still here. Some of you and your off spring nightmares for the country but still would not leave. I also want to know which country you all built when some of you pay the barely paying any taxes. A few probably illegal. Why are you afraid to go home. Is it because the life you live here you will not have in your home country. Are you running from something there and here is your safe place. I want to know. Help me understand. At this moment, I am sick and tired of hearing this local vs island people crap. I you don't like the place just leave no one is forcing any of you to be here. Leave so those of us who want to be here can have a peace of mind and enjoy the place. Thank you in advance for all the ignorant and useless response that will follow. Greatly appreciated.
    • your grandparents (16/07/2020, 16:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Remember, your grandparents, and not only yours, almost all the islands went first to cut sugar cane and were well received.
  • @Bree (15/07/2020, 15:21) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Well said I agree with you
  • my (15/07/2020, 15:46) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    People from the island as they will say till then our back strong we all grown up an strong food not Mac & cheese or spigett &meat ball or auger apples so let's hold our chest up thay soon go mad every day will hear a new story it's is God in control right now
  • Damaged done (15/07/2020, 16:13) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    The world done gave us bad press brand us as a inhumane place...The damaged is done.....Trying to clean it up now... hard.... we all kno bad newa spread like wild fire...Just image im getting Clips from Miami and England.. " The BVI sending home all foreigners who aint working"... Leaders are mocking us...
  • wisdom (15/07/2020, 16:30) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    So if they're not working how will they pay their bills especially their rent,they just preventing the landlord from getting new tenant who are capable of paying their rent so the landlord will be able to pay his/ her mortgage on time.why the ppl who are not natives and belonger refuse to go back to their home country.when u l leave ur home country and go over seas to work is to better urself and later return back to ur home land.
  • tola (15/07/2020, 20:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    God is love
  • Nationalist (15/07/2020, 20:21) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's too much time send them home they going to burden us and the little resources we have bvi nationals should always come first no matter what minister send them home two weeks to leave maximum
  • I ready to go! (16/07/2020, 00:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now for all my follow down islanders, if you have not made over 50 contributions to social security they have to give you a pay out when you leaving if you don’t plan to return just make the clear and if your over 50 you sign up to have you pension pay send to you choose account or home address in your country.

    Now question to my dear friend Mr. Wheatley, my work place has now extended the laid off period to 6 months, social security paying unemployment for 3 months way the money will come from for the next 3 months for rent and food, So why could you have given the option for the person who want to extend their laid off to have a choice.
    We can walk away from so much severance pay when every dollar counts. I would love to be able to stop now because if my company had decided they was going to close there doors and not extend I couldn’t force them to stay open, so why now I have wait for another 3 months.
    That’s all I say we the people are important too.
  • VG (16/07/2020, 04:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Okay so you keep talking about paying rent, rent island people must go home good guss what the banks will be calling for there lone lone and your mother ass can't find the money what you going to do push the big D or what my house is paid for already and maybe a lot of you can't even go over to VG that's y you so damn miserable take your damn knees off island people neck now
  • be careful (16/07/2020, 06:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    So truly said ...there some that so humble and righteous even more than we own kinds yes...then there are those that that give strength to we own local enemies of different that been ur oppressors for so much hundred of years ..the half stil not told ..but Lowe them all. To there self ..
  • SPEAK MY MINE (16/07/2020, 09:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You sets of locals jackdonkies need to shut to hell up and social security need give people what ever money they contribrate d because they going home and not coming back to this contintent all you jackasses
  • jah (17/07/2020, 06:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hola. When pheoh of Egypt was persecuting the children of God ,remember what had happened to him. Almost 3 years ago remember what happened to the VI. The same people that you call down islands came to help you all. ReBuilding your schools,your churches, your houses,restore your electricity, your water, teaching your children, taking care of your sick persons, paying your mortgage , patrolling your street when most of you went to the US to hide. Now things settled, you all have the audacity to treat expats like that.
    I am not saying that all the VI people bad, we have some awesome and outstanding,respectable persons in the VI and I respect them"one love "but the ridiculous ones are sickening.
    • veronica (18/07/2020, 23:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      When they were hungry and looking shelter is us down island people who take care of them.Soon and very soon history will repeat itself and u all will be on your own
  • tretretrete (19/07/2020, 19:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not bad at all


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