Multi-year work permits could be solution to Labour congestion– Hon Wheatley
The situation at the Labour Department has been made worse with the staff shortage and the lengthy processing time for work permits because persons are mandated to renew their permits on a yearly basis.
The suggestion was put forward by a member of the public during the stakeholders meeting to address labour concerns held virtually on February 10, 2022.
When the suggestion was posed, Acting Labour Commissioner Michelle A. McLean said: “In the Labour Code yes there is provision for I think it is a three-year work permit. I think we would have to look at the specific industry because doing so would place BVIslanders/Belongers at a disadvantage.”
She explained: “Because you would appoint somebody with a three-year work permit and a BVIslander/Belonger may want to come home, they desire to go into another job and because of that, they are unable to.”
McClean further stated that she also doesn’t believe that it should be a ‘blanket statement.”
“We have to actually sit down and state in terms of what industry, and maybe put in a clause as to how long it may be; not necessarily be for the three years,” she pointed out.
Minister agreed
It was at that time the Minister for Labour intervened.
“I think it is an excellent question and I hear you commissioner and that would be my concern also. We have to make sure that as we get our labour force organised, that at the same time, we don’t disenfranchise the locals.”
Nonetheless, he stated that the idea is worth exploring deeper.
He explained: “because in the short term if somebody is going to get a two-year permit or you decide a certain number gets two years, it’s going to cut down on the congestion in the office for next year because the person would not come back next year and probably the following year. So it is something worth exploring and I am prepared to actually explore that, I like it. It is a very interesting suggestion and it is something that may work as a short term solution to avoid persons coming back too quickly again.”
The Labour Department has been under the radar these past few months with their staff shortage and the lengthy periods that employers and their employees or potential employees have to wait for the work permit processing.
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20 Responses to “Multi-year work permits could be solution to Labour congestion– Hon Wheatley”
@r$& you were allowed to work for months without the permit
This is unfortunately way too true at many, many government offices, not just Labour.
It is my intent to create Percipience of the
Common Mundane issues that impacts Societal
Living From an Outside the Box Commentaries.
For instance the Daily Horoscopes depicts your Future
On an Daily Basis... Whether you have an Work
permit or even after you are Retired..
Which Means that there are to Completely different
Protagonists involved with Human affairs on this
Particularl Planet....And is not concerned with Amen
And Eulogies... BTW... and IRL...!!!???
The only downside would be having to then pass everything through the bottleneck of Labour Dept. management.
It's time to reconsider privatising the process.