Over 3,000 registered with govt’s Labour Management System

Former Labour Minister Lorna Smith recently shared an update on the government’s Labour Management System during a House of Assembly sitting, disclosing that thousands of employers and employees have already registered on the new platform.

Five hundred employers, 3,507 employees, and 205 job seekers had registered on the system by October 15.

“The Department is currently accepting and processing applications for both new and renewed work permits online,” Smith stated while she was still the portfolio minister.

She explained that the Labour Management System, launched on July 1, aims to modernise the Department of Labour and Workforce Development by digitising key services. This will make interacting with the department easier for employers and job seekers. The new digital approach is set to improve the efficiency of work permit applications and renewals.

The platform allows employers to register their companies and employees and even post job listings, while job seekers can upload their CVs and apply for jobs online. Smith noted that the system’s introduction followed a successful pilot phase, which began in May and involved training 78 employers across Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda.

“Employers played a critical role in testing and improving the system through their valuable feedback,” she added.

Training sessions for using the system have been held weekly on Tortola, with regular sessions on Virgin Gorda, as well as visits to Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. According to Smith, user feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the system’s user-friendliness.

No more paper applications Smith had announced that from November 1, the Department would no longer accept paper applications for work permit renewals. “All renewals must be submitted online via the Labour Management System,” she emphasised.

She urged employers to familiarise themselves with the platform. Smith acknowledged that no project of this scale is without challenges but shared that the Department has been addressing issues through a dedicated support system. The system’s next major improvement will be the introduction of an online payment portal, eliminating the need for in-person payments.

“There is growing excitement about the convenience it will bring,” she stated.

Smith praised the efforts of the Department of Labour and Workforce Development teams and expressed pride in the progress made so far. She assured that additional training opportunities would be provided to ensure that everyone could access and navigate the system effectively.