Process them faster! 60% of labour force requires permits
Deputy Premier and Labour Minister Lorna Smith has revealed that 60 per cent of the territory’s 21,000-member workforce requires work permits.
While commenting on some of the issues affecting her ministry, Smith stressed that systems within the Labour Department need to better facilitate the processing of those permits.
Smith, who heads up the Labor and Workforce Department, complained that she inherited a department that continues to be understaffed and one where workforce development has not been given the attention it requires.
“This is going to change, of course, but it would be foolish of me not to recognise and to accept that while we train and prepare and give priority to our BVIslanders, we must make it easier and faster for people to get their work permits so that the economy can continue to be strong,” Smith said.
The minister expressed delight that funds have now been allocated in this year’s budget for transforming and digitising the department with new labour management software, which she said will be operational by mid-2024.
“This will bring an end to the paper system that is in place where people have been losing work permit applications and so on,” Smith stated.
The Labour Minister described the new developments as a sea change in the way business will be done at the department and also expressed delight at some of its features.
She pointed out that the new system will allow applicants to be able to see locals who are available for specific positions whenever vacancies are posted virtually with the Labour Department.
“The net result is that there will be a faster process and applications can be approved in a matter of weeks,” Smith said.
Despite the new developments though, Smith said the Labour Department must be properly staffed and noted that a senior labour officer is expected to be hired soon for the department’s Virgin Gorda office.
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Labour definitely needs help with staff. The process is very manual so the use of technology would be welcomed
Good. Wheatley has fail.. It’s a big mess
Mitch Turnbull was there since Wheatley, so if Wheatley failed, then Mitch failed as well.
I believe that Lorna will get it turned around though.
Mitch for a few months
21,000 work permits…more than the number of belongers, no doubt
@Wow,
It’s 60% of the 21,000. Please read and comprehend.
The headline suggests 60% of labour fiorce needs work prmits. Th article indicates that 21,000 work permits are neeed. From that, one could conclude that the work force numbers 35,000. Could that be right?
BVI’s own census office estimated the Territory’s population at about 37,000 for 2022 with about 20,700 employed, the remainder ebing either children or retirees. According to the census office, about 9,400 work permits were issues in 2015. How is that now needed are almost as many work permits (21,000) as there are employed persons in the Territory per BVI’s census office?
“60 per cent of the territory’s 21,000-member workforce requires work permits”
That means 12,600 requires work permit.
Read and do the math. Two issues, for those complaining about outsiders taking jobs, can be seen right here. Basic reading and comprehension skills and basic math skills – both lacking. Just try reading this again, understand, and then do the math: “Deputy Premier and Labour Minister Lorna Smith has revealed that 60 per cent of the territory’s 21,000-member workforce requires work permits.” Education, education, education.
60% of the entire workforce of 21000 = 12600
Some businesses you go in and their entire staff is people from the Philippines some of them barely even know English. The reason we struggling to process them is because we giving out too much in the first place.
Ironic that the public workforce development department can’t even develop its own workforce.
Get rid of all work permits. What is the purpose of these permits other than revenue for the government.
There needs to be a more selective process in processing work permits. There are immigrants who are employed or seasonally employed who cannot afford to live in the British Virgin Islands and as a result experience more hardship (in the BVI, than in their native or homeland) and in some cases exploitation.
The BVI workforce can only be built up if it starts in the schools. Look at our education system from Pre-School straight through Secondary, they have the kids boxed in from the get go! There’s no real emphasis on hospitality or marine industry hence many of the youth are not prepared for lucrative jobs/opportunities in these thriving areas and the need for work permits. We talk about permits as if they’re a bad thing, but we need them if we want businesses and economy to grow. Not saying that we approve every permit without proper checks but waiting 3 months for a permit when it’s known full well that the person is qualified and needed is rubbish.
I am not always a Wheatley Fan, But I give Jack his Jacket when needed. Wheatley was not a failure as Labour Minister. The Labour Ministry is a very unique Ministry in the sense that many things go on in the inside that is not right. Labour Department is understaffed and has been for the longest while.
Some Employees at the Labour Department are guilty of Conflict of Interest. Most Labour Ministers, Labour Commissioners and Labour Staff wish not to operate under the Labour Code of the Virgin islands.
The Labour Department MUST implement systems whereby
All Virgin Islanders who are unemployed should be listed and Trained to occupy Vacant Positions within the Territory when available. There is often many excuses why Virgin Islanders are not employed and not every excuse is true. In some instances, Virgin Islanders are wilfully not employed for no reason and in some cases Labour is aware and does NOTHING about it. The BVI must be the only jurisdiction in the Caribbean Region where its Nationals are being treated like second and Third Class Citizens when it comes to Employment Qualified or not. I am not against anyone coming into the BVI seeking Employment as they do not hand themselves Work Permits. Hon. Wheatley through the Finance Ministry paid a handsome fee for an IT Consultant to implement an online work Permit paperless system. Like everything else any System Must have growing Pains at first But that System was not given ample time to be understood because of lack of input from Stakeholders and the Labour Staff. The system was not a failure. If that same system was made operable again before spending more money to probably implement a New one it is doable. Wheatley did NOT fail. The Same system will work.
Everyone is hoping that the current Minister will eliminate all the problems in Labour. We must give her full support But as time goes on, We will all see. Processing Work Permits quickly is NOT a Labour Solution. Getting unemployment reduced in a Country is paramount to its Development. For this Territory to become what it needs to become, greater emphasis MUST be placed in its Nationals.
The people of this Territory need to realize what is happening, STOP blaming the UK, Pull together,
Re-discover your Values and Culture, Then and only Then you will regain your Respect. You Are Stronger Together!!!!!
Force businesses to hire people simply on the basis that they are local and BVI will turn into Little Haiti in 6mths. Qualified locals with the right attitude are almost always given the first preference. Its not cheap or easy to recruit from overseas either.
Every few months in Bermuda the government will announce professions where no work permits would be considered (eg taxi driver, receptionist, realtor) These professions are those where there are ample Bermudians available to fill the spots. These are continually under review and updated. This means employers don’t waste time by applying for work permits in those fields.
You are missing the Point or you are a Hater of Locals. You full well know that most Jobs held by Expats especially Line Positions doesn’t cost Employers a Dime. Most people who come looking for a Salesclerk, Bartender, Cook, Wait Staff pay their own expense to come to the BVI and pay for their own Work Permit. Managerial Positions are usually funded by some Employers with other perks. The thing is, as Ms. Pee would say, “All Tom, Dick and harry want to come to the BVI and take control and push out the Nationals of the Territory. I have NO tolerance nor respect for such people. When you go to Rome, Do as the Romans do. Dance by the Music you meet playing.
When most locals leave the island for the US or people that come here for Belongers status based on a 4th generation status or higher; can’t get one cause the process takes longer then 6 months. You really can’t be mad that most of the jobs are done by outsiders. If a land can’t produce locals to work certain jobs or have certain skills all while not creating or allowing bloodlines to comeback with those certain skills you only give yourself one other options. And that is to rely on outside labor.
If we were to analyze the data available, we would see that a large percentage of locals (mostly youths) after graduating high school or college, they migrate to the USA or UK to further their studies or simply have a better life. How many of these locals return to the BVI to train BVIslanders that are left behind without a skill or higher education? Most of the labor woes lie right here with the local mindset. If locals don’t want to take certain jobs simply because it’s “less” for them, then someone needs to fill that gap, and we cannot expect the employers, local businesses or companies to suffer because of those who find the jobs not good enough for their standard. Go into any classroom, ask students how many of you want to become a teacher? Less than 20% of the classroom will respond in the affirmative. Of that 20%, 5% will probably take it serious and carry through to become a teacher. Let’s not start with landscaping and the construction field. Most locals simply prefer a 9-5 sitting in an AC office in whatever position they can fit into and that’s good enough. This labor issue stops at the locals.