We’re not thinking! Walwyn bemoans new burden on employers
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has warned that the government’s approach to legislation and economic policy is placing an unsustainable financial burden on employers in the Virgin Islands.
Walwyn said the current environment has made it harder for businesses to survive, and that the government appears to be implementing policies without fully considering their impact on the private sector.
He criticised a new policy requiring employers to pay for new work permits upfront, arguing it adds financial strain on already struggling businesses. “I want to understand why. Businesses are already having a difficult time even staying afloat. Why would you put that additional burden of paying for new work permits on employers?” he asked.
He explained that employers are forced to take a risk on unknown workers, some of whom turn out to be unqualified.
Walwyn also questioned the practicality of Labour Department procedures that require employers to submit the passport of a prospective worker who is not yet on the island. “How do they get the passport? Where do they get it from? The person is not on the island; they cannot be on the island while the permit is being processed,” he argued.
He said the current process creates unnecessary hardship and lacks consideration for real-world challenges. “We are not thinking, we have to be more practical and understand,” Walwyn stated.
He raised concerns that government decisions are increasingly shifting financial responsibilities onto employers without proper consultation or assessment. According to Walwyn, this trend is making it difficult for businesses to stay afloat.
“Go back and change that thing, let people pay for their own permit,” he urged. “Let them pay for their own permit and stop putting all these burdens on top of the employers who are already having a difficult time.”
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The government looking quick money…so they can place into failing banks that they need to see liquidated and NOT rescued so the cunning individuals can get back the value on the preference shares of the shell companies during the liquidation process that they ultimately own – source of funds for the purchase of the preference shares by the non-operational shell companies??? Millions from the government purses to the failing banks wrapped up as loans to the shell companies. ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY! If these things are true, arguably THE biggest scam witnessed on these islands…potentially beating the sinaloa cartel supplier wannabe, allegedly. It take a real thief to come up with that kinda plan for a bank they know going to be liquidated. The primer was just conveniently away at the time of said transaction. How many more transactions took place when he was conveniently on trips.
Point is, their policy making is just another cover up for some underlying scheme, allegedly. That’s why it don’t make no sense to us. Only dem.
And if the UK Guardian do not cover this scheme that shows that the only place money laundering taking place is in the local government and NOT in the private sector for offshore business, then they really targetting BVI because of a silly tax agenda, allegedly.
GOVERNMENT DO THIS AS WELL WITH THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY – NO CONSULATION.
LEGISLATION AND AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION AND FEES ARE ALREADY IN THE FINALIZATION STAGE TO THEN TRY TO “CONSULT” SO TO SPEAK WITH THE INDUSTRY. ALL THE WHILE NOTHING THE INDUSTRY CAN DO AT THIS POINT WHEN THE LEGISLATION AND AMENDMENTS ARE ALREADY SET IN STONE.
THEY DO NOT THINK ABOUT HOW IT COULD AFFECT REGISTERED AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND THE INDUSTRY.
I WONDER IF FSC EVEN CONSIDERS THIS WHEN LEGISLATIONS ARE PASSED AND PLEASE STOP PASSING MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THEM AT THE END OF YEAR OR PUTTING CHANGES TO BE EFFECTIVE 2 JANUARY WHEN YOU FULLY WELL KNOW IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND A TIME FOR FAMILY.
As someone who started and ran a company in the US for decades, I can tell you that Walwyn’s caution is universal. Irrespective of the country, the problem is that far too many people who have never owned or run a business or a part of a business are in a position to regulate those brave few who take that risk.
I often speak to business owners in the Territory and Walwyn’s remarks accurately reflect their frustration. Tourist-driven economies by their very nature are not as dynamic as others (meaning that growth is challenging) and for a government to continuously impose policies and regulations that are strangleholds merely adds to those challenges.
Keep in mind that the same people who brought you BVI Airways, the Anegada Solar Farm, and now the Bank of Asia debacle are the ones regulating the private business sector. They spend more time planning on how to throw a festival or a big party (without being willing to tell the citizens how much it will cost beforehand, or even report that afterwards), and now they want to undertake an airport expansion project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars (and yet they still conceal the vaunted “Business Case” from your eyes).
Unfortunately, Walwyn is a lone “voice crying out in the wilderness.”
This so describes the poblem. Why is the country letting this Government get away with the SECRET policies and agendas and reports that are for the good of only a few and the rest are left with a nation that does not work has no infrastructure and destroyed Environment.
Where did the #3,000,000,000 go that has been spent since 2018 and not one Financial report.
What are they all hidiing
We did this but took us 3 visits to make the payment – you need an appintment to pay which is ridiculous
If I was the employer I would have the employee reimburse me “up front” for this cost.
It seems like a no brainer to me,what am I missing?
Passport submission in absentee is a bit more tricky and unreasonable frankly…Unless it is a photo copy(maybe),otherwise,taking a trip to the BVI and personally hand delivering my passport would be an expensive cost for an uncertain final outcome.
Let’s hope that all landlords are taken care of as we speak.
He only representing the outsiders
I agree with it because ultimately we need to build our country. The transition will be hard and bumpy but ultimately necessary.
Many business have been running on fumes. It’s time to put our pride aside and close up shop if we aren’t profitable. I dont think many people have a good handle on the reality of the average business in the BVI. Most have leveraged their homes but the business are not doing well. True wealth will reveal itself. True wealth gives. Our local young people need us right now. They have nowhere else to go. May God be for us all. This one will be rough.
Yes for too long people think they should be able to run their businesses like a plantaion. IF you cannot afford to pay people you don’t have a business. Go do something else.
It’s all too true. The Labour Dept., regardless of its “new on-line system”, is antiquated, with systems designed as road blocks for our economy. The on-line system was only designed for the department bureaucrats, not the people using it. Beyond that the Labour Department is understaffed and the people working there only have a world view that sees their own petty departmental priorities… Not in touch with the real world economy.
If I could shop at a different Labour Dept., I would.
Time for a complete overhaul.
They can hire a local and not pay work permit at all.
$3,000Million spent since Irma.
$3Billion
Do the people of the VI see any of that money invested in their country.
Time for Heritage and Cindy to join the people in a real March to demand the Financial Statements. Why have we not had a Financial Statement since 2016.
Who is being reprimanded for this? Who is accountable? Who is being investigated? Who is hiding behind this? What is being hidden by this? Who benefits from this? Who is going to be fined for this?
Where is our $3,000,000,000???
Why can we not see any of it in the infracstructure of this Territory?
Where is it?
$3,000,000,000.00
What does the law say on who should be paying for a Work permit? Lets talk after answering that question.
I’d like to say on the Facebook posting:
Labour wants us to pay earlier, for their bad customer service, lack of communication, attitude, and an egregiously excessive length of time in delivery of the service?
But good sense says don’t do this on a public forum where you can’t be anonymous.
WE WOULD LOVE THE WIGGED ONE TO RESPOND YO THAT QUESTION – HE BLAMES THE UK FOR EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN , BUT HE SUFFERS WITH ” SELECTIVE AMNESIA ” OR HAS ” FORKED TONGUE ” AND THEN THERE IS THE CITY SLICKER – CSC – SHO HOLLERED OUT WE IN THE BVI ARE LIVING OUR BEST LIVES EVER / ANOTHER ORATOR WITH ” FORKED TONGUE ” WHO USES THE NIBLE AS A FRONT BUT FAILED TO REALISE THAT HE OR THE OTHER TWO WANNABE HOLY BOYZ FROM CGB, THAT THEY CANNOT FOOL GOD ■
We need the police to demand to see where these reports are. They must be being changed or tampered with. What else would take 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 years. Please go and find out what is being tampered with. It must be illegal to falsify accounts. We suspect a fraud is being committed on the VI people. It should be investigated now.
Myron you may not be away of what’s happening out there with some of these employers they sponser someone but the person not really working for that person and that employer is charging a ridicilous fee from that individual on exchange for the sponsor.
The system has become a means of profiteering for many persons in the community both local and foreign. Its about time government tighten up the process we are being over run by foreigners who are here only for the US Dollar they couldn’t care less about this country.
Seems to me employers have choices. If they are strapped for cash and can’t afford the application fee for a work permit, go up to the college and place a Help Wanted sign on the bulletin board. Put one on their door as well. Why all of a sudden hiring locally is taboo? Who are we building this country for? Us? Every restaurant, supermarket, small businesses and large are hiring overseas. Maybe we should all shop overseas. Go on Amazon and pay the mailing fees for this is wrong.
But I digressed. If employers cannot find application fees, hire locally. Who they are bringing in are not specially skilled. They are damn waiters and short order cooks and cashiers etc. You can pick up ten of those in ten minutes here. Alliance, they serious? I need a job in Labour, please.
How quickly the dept. looks at the money not rolling in, and not at improving the quality of their service.
Perhaps if the system worked at something greater than a snail’s pace, the money would roll in.
Requiring employers to pay for new work permits for expatriate workers serves as a strategic policy tool that encourages the hiring of qualified BVIslanders and Belongers by creating a direct financial incentive to prioritize local talent. Unlike hiring expatriates, which involves permit fees and additional administrative processes employing locals is more cost-effective and efficient, particularly for entry-level or non-specialized roles.
This policy promotes more deliberate and responsible hiring practices, ensuring that employers recruit foreign workers only when there is a genuine need. By levelling the playing field, it increases local workforce participation, reduces unemployment, and strengthens national capacity, contributing to greater economic self-sufficiency and social cohesion. Additionally, the policy enhances government oversight by improving labor market transparency, making it easier for authorities to track employment trends, monitor compliance, and eliminate irregularities such as false sponsorships and “ghost jobs.”
It also upholds international labor standards and bolsters the BVI’s reputation as a responsible and rights-respecting jurisdiction. Moreover, by shifting the cost burden of work permits from workers to employers, it protects migrant workers from exploitation, prevents unlawful wage deductions, and reduces the likelihood of illegal employment arrangements. This, in turn, fosters a more stable, loyal, and productive workforce, particularly in critical sectors such as hospitality, construction, and domestic work, ultimately benefiting both workers and the broader BVI economy
I am wondering why locals are being encouraged to upload their resumes to the Labour Management System when they have thousands now and not calling anyone for jobs. They are just busy rubber stamping every application that comes through and Government should wait until the employees fly in? Well, well, Hon. Walwyn jokey, buddy.
I understand that lots of local businesses are in trouble because goods and services are expensive and the populous has cut back. But it must be cheaper to hire two students from the college part time than to bring somebody to the VI for $2,000 and then when they get here discover they can’t even do the entry level job. Seems to me small businesses and large ones have choices and they are choosing to hire every employee some of them have from overseas except for the token two. So I am not sympathetic and Hon. Walwyn, we are thinking. Trust me. We are thinking that you didn’t even consider another option for this predicament. Seems to me the labour system works fine. Hell of a lot of migrant workers in this place. Not hating, just stating facts. Would make more sense to agitate for the locals sitting on the side of the road waiting to hear from Labour. Hundreds of jobs on their site, not for us.