Lorna Smith not lingering! New changes to work permit process
Labour Minister Lorna Smith is already making good on her election promise to improve the work permit process in the BVI. Yesterday, the Ministry announced that the processing of Executive Work Permits (EWP) will now be exclusively done by the Department of Labour & Workforce Development.
The Labour Ministry said in a media release that this shift has been implemented “with immediate effect”.
The Executive Work Permit programme was introduced in 2018 for individuals earning at least $100,000 annually.
However, due to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the government broadened the programme to include all employees in the Financial Services Sector, irrespective of their salary.
But yesterday, the Labour Ministry said the Department of Labour and Workforce Development will return to the initial eligibility criteria.
The Ministry said applicants who do not meet the $100,000 salary threshold but require expedited processing within the 14-day timeframe, can access the Expedited Work Permit Process at the Department of Labour and Workforce Development.
The Ministry said each case will be assessed individually and the processing and application fees for this expedited service remain at $150 and $50, respectively.
For inquiries regarding the transition process of Executive Work Permits, persons are asked to contact the Department via email at [email protected] or contact Kim Russell-Romney, Althea Guishard, or Michelle McLean at 468-4784; 468-4708; or 468-4707.
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Lorna- don’t forget that the majority of the woking people in our economy are not employed in the financial services sector. Pls don’t “improve” the awful work permit process by only considering the portion of the economy you know best. FS might contribute 60% of every $ into the govt’s coffers but we have a wider business sector. I believe you were right beside Lavity when he coined the 3-pillars of our economy phrase, though nobody really knows what the 3rd pillar is now…
THIS WOMAN IS MAKING IT EASIER FOR OUTSIDERS TO GET JOBS HERE WHILE FORGETTING ABOUT THE LOCALS WHO VOTED FOR HER AND NEED JOBS AND THE KIDS WHO ARE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE……..WHOSE CORNER IS SHE REALLY IN ????
Since when does locals need work permit??? As a matter of fact it seems more likely that locals do not need jobs at all, because jobs are being advertised for a period of time and no locals will apply.
Further they are asked to register with the labour dept and submit their CV or resume. How many does it? There are even cases when the few who does it, when called by the dept they still do not take the job. What should labour or Minister do?
I think there must be some training for these locals who according to the mins. for the 6, once said, they thing they are entitled.
Min Hon L Smith, go right ahead with your change and remember to remind the dept that when a work permit is submitted for renewal and is due or exp. on a certain date, once the permit is was submitted in good time before the exp. date, the individual should not be charged immigration fees as long as the work permit is with the labour dept and was not processed in time.
The individual should be able to go to Imegration, present their receipt to show that the work permit is in with labour dept. Immigration should them issue a temp extension for maximum 2 weeks to allow labour to process and approve the renewal. When the process is completed, the individual should them be able to go to immigration, regularize their status and them pay the immigration fees. But we have instances where a work permit is in for renewal, the individual goes to collect few says before their time expires, just to be told work permit is not ready. They then have to go to immigration for time, pay for the time which is equivalent to one year, then 2 to 3 days later, Labour calls to inform the individual that the work permit is now ready at which time the individual goes back to immigration to regularize and then pays another year for the extension. Not good!! This should really stop Madam Minister. If the labour dept delays the renewal the individual should not be made to pay twice Thank you
Lorna looking out for her island people them alone…She is in their corner
is a word that few civil servants understand.
Speak for yourself what do you know about what BVIslanders go through in this country. There are a lot of us who are highly skilled and qualified and are being victimised by the powers that be.
How much island people making $100,000 or even $50,000.
I agree with you. I don’t think most BVIslanders understand quite how horrible an experience it is dealing with Labor and Immigration.
You submit your renewal application 6 weeks before expiration per the instructions but then it is then not processed in time and then you are charged $50 extension fee even though it is not your fault that the renewal wasn’t processed in time. If you have children or dependents you have to pay $50 each for them too. Also you have to attend two times for this – and many people don’t get paid for that time off work – so you lost two days’ pay (because the Immigration Department is so disorganised they are incapable of operating an appointments system). Then you get a load of attitude if you dare to complain. This has happened to me every year for the last five years – its cost me personally well over $1000 – through no fault of my own and simply following the process as directed.
I swear some of these bloggers are school dropouts from Form 1. Why should locals be going to Labor dept? Locals can get any job they wish if they have the necessary qualifications. I know some persons have some bad experiences but those are the exceptions. If you want a 6 figure salary stay in school, go to university and get your qualifications then you can get any job any part of the world same as the expats. There’s nothing keeping a BV Islander from getting a job in Hong Kong, Europe, South Korea or New Zealand. As long as you have a skill that is needed in other countries.
Locals go to labor department because they are disenfranchised. There are a lot of qualified BVIslanders who have been victimised in both the public and private sector. In any civilised country it is expected that they will take care of their own first before entertaining other nationals. Do you think you could make this statement in another Caribbean country without causing an uproar? Concerning the 6 figure salary there are a number of us locals that are used to it but why should a BVIslander has to leave his country to get a job anywhere else in the world if the same jobs are here. In closing I am all for locals whether born in the BVI, belongers or naturalised or resident in the BVI being gainfully employed but this group must be satisfied first before bringing more and more people in the country. I am an advocate that “economic substance” if handled correctly can achieve harmony between locals and expats and promote prosperity for all if handled the correct way.
I hope that the Minister will not only deal with the expediting of work permits but ensure that the workforce development aspect is adhered to and a BVI islander or belonger is identified to understudy these so called executives especially in Financial services sector and and wherever appropriate.
Making life more difficult for us that process Work Permits through the Executive option. Permits that would take a few days to a week to be processed will now take longer! We really need to be careful who we give power to! Rolling eyes!
Most of the jobs that are advertised are only advertised to fool Labor Dept. in thinking that the job was advertised but the truth is those posts are already filled by people who have not even arrived on the Island but a cousin, sister or brother already secure the job for them. Another issue is that a lot of work permits applications are submitted by people who donot have vacancies but are doing someone a favor or getting some kind of compensation. There are lots of things that need investigating here in Natures Little Secret. Stop pointing your fingers at the politicians because some of you doing more illegal things than them. Set of hypocrites you all are.
And nothing is keeping you from leaving the BVI and getting a job in Hong Kong, Europe…… You are out of place; if locals want to contribute to the development of their country, who are you to tell them to look a job in another jurisdiction?
I really feel for us as a country…
Lazy you mean,only want to live at restaurants.
The elites helping the elites. How lovely.
The airport tower needs staff right now. make it easier for who?? for people who will not strike on the job?? for people who agreed to work for an amount and accept it without expecting more than what they sign up for??
when application are being made for an overseas how is labour able to prove that those person hold the qualification and certificates they claimed to have. a lot of them come here getting big pay and provide fake documents. Check all them charter companies and the top bosses. Jobs and jobs title are being created for their spouse, families and friends.
Wolf in sheep clothing. Wait and see. The wolf will soon appear when the sheep least expect.
Island people? What do you think we are?
Look around you. What do you see? Yeah, that’s right.
An ISLAND!!!
Take seat.
Where can I apply for one of those $100K jobs?
It’s not the “island people” she is helping, its mostly the persons coming from outside the Caribbean.
Why small minded people keep talking down our brothers and sisters from within the region is beyond me. As a BVI Lander working in the private sector, I see enough to know exactly who is going to benefit.
These private companies will hire all their people now for no less than the $100k (plus extra benefits), while other people from here and other parts of the region get treated like second class citizens at the same company. They were doing it before. Now they have an excuse….
Those are the ones we need to worry about.