Labour boss chided for vague response to resident’s concerns
Acting Labour Commissioner Michelle McLean was chided for a vague response given to a resident recently over concerns about delayed work permit approvals.
This was all unfolded at a virtual stakeholders meeting recently when the resident asked: “We submit permits on behalf of our clients, some are still being processed [from] as far back as August 2021. This obviously affects business for these clients. Can you advise when we should expect a decision on such applications?”
McLean told the resident that she was uncertain about any timeline for the approvals to be processed and usually forwards the residents’ emails to the relevant party.
“I can’t come out and say exactly when it is going to be processed, I can surely look into it,” McLean stated while complaining about frustrations faced by the Labour Department with the online system that had been put in place.
Hearing the acting commissioner’s response, Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley indicated that her statement was unsatisfactory.
“I think we need to give a little better answer as business persons are trying to make some money now,” he stated. “That business might not have made some money for the last year or two years and to tell someone you’re not sure; I think we have to do a little better in terms of assuring businesses that they are going to be able to function,” Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley said.
Wheatley said he understood the situation faced by McLean with the current staff shortage in her department and promised to address the situation with the Deputy Governor as a matter of urgency.
The office of the Governor and Deputy Governor oversees human resources for the public sector in the BVI.
“Businesses work on predictability and I think we need to just remove some of the uncertainty from the situation,” Minister Wheatley said.
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DEFEND US BVISLANDERS
To do what ? may I asked
stick your feet.
I came away from the stakeholders’ meeting underwhelmed and uninspired by both the political and professional management of the Labour Dept.
Basically, I thought the whole thing was a dog-and-pony show to allow the Minister to say something like: “See… We are listening and we are paying attention.” All the while committing to nothing – Political Gamesmanship. The Acting Commissioner looked and acted like she would prefer to be any other place in the world than there.
The Minister was asked directly what was his take-away and what solutions did he propose… We have yet to hear ANY of those solutions, by the way.
Yup
Nothing accomplished at this meeting other than hollow words and excuses. If we cannot get people to work, then businesses will fail. Then the BVI fails. Simple as that
If Labour is suffering with staff shortages, why don’t they bring in some expats to work there? That backlog will get sorted double time.
This is the level of disrespect hard working Virgin Islanders have to take in their country. Are you saying that Virgin Islanders are not hard working?
Up
he only said bring people in, nothing about our people
Hard work and diligence do not appear to be defining traits of BVislanders. If they were, then the work permit issue would be one of not enough workers to fill the need, not one of not enough people willing to show up to do a day’s work for a day’s wage.
The poor people faced with recovering from the Minister’s idiotic on line system and a total lack of management experience should not be blamed. When the Minister doesn’t have any idea what should be done how can we expect the people under him to have a plan. The overwhelmed people in Labour are trying their best.
The real question is why hasn’t the Minister made Immigration cooperate with Labour and coordinate the appointments so a work permit holder, once approved, walks directly to Immigration to finish the process??? Stop requiring Immigration extensions when the permit is in process!!
We would like some service from this goverment. And some forward movement
Once permits are approved, it should be transferred to Immigration department and the permit holder instructed to collect permit at the immigration department with their passport where they will pay the relevant fees and received the immigration stamp.
The amount of overhaul that this entire process needs is staggering really and I’m sure there is plenty of persons with expertise that could help them implement improvements if they would be willing.
Waste of time! Lets move on and get a responsible minister involved. This lady is rude, and a waste of time…