Minister: Seeking ‘Right Balance’ On Work Permits
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors today [May 22] offered the following regarding the recently released Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers’ [ABIR] survey.
Minister Minors, who is the substantive Minister responsible for work permit matters, said, “I want to assure both the local and international business sectors that we are seeking to strike the right balance in these tough times between ensuring that companies are afforded the resources that they need, and ensuring that Bermudians that are available for employment obtain a job for which they are suitably qualified.
“I announced some weeks back that we are sensitive to the needs of our business organizations and in that respect, I did confirm that an internal Work Permit Policy review is underway – this would include the reorganisation of our work permit section.
“As a result of the review, there are number of initiatives that we are considering that we will share directly with relevant stakeholders. The recommendations, once approved by Cabinet will be included in the existing work permit policies.
“I think it’s also important to point out that we are taking steps to ensure that our business partners are supported. The public will be aware that the Incentives for Job Creators Act came into effect January 2012.
“Companies that have invested in Bermuda and Bermudians have been encouraged to apply for the benefits, which extends to concessions including having up to five senior executives exempt from work permit control.
“These executives can apply for a Permanent Resident’s Certificate once they meet the eligibility requirements. With regard to our 10-year Work Permit Policy, we can confirm that to date five ten-year work permit applications have been submitted.”
The Minister pointed out that eligibility criteria for the 10-year Work Permit has been revised and extended to include those working at the Head of the Department level within the international business sector.
Minister Minors concluded, “Overall while our first priority is to ensure that Bermudians are afforded employment, we are keen to create a climate that will help keep companies in Bermuda as partners in our Country’s long-term future.”
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Its a no brainer…..executives get to work here as long as they want. A one time permit issued. 2 Bdians hired for every 1 support staff they bring with them. The rest is icing on the cake rental unit, car, petrol, food and other common services they use employ us ALL
Let’s see how the system she has set up for us to find employment will work for her. Oh. I know. she loses her seat and the Premier makes her a consultant? Watch and you will see how every PLP candidate who loses their seat is found a govt job. Now what say you?
Hmm, so international companies compalain about “certainty” but they won’t apply for 10 year work permits. Something smells fishy
Ten year permits are available only for a few high-level employees, and are extremely expensive. They’re attractive to a handful of people, no more. 6 year term limits are still in place. 14 years into running the place, this government is now ‘reviewing’ the work permit dept to see if it can improve its diabolical service reputation.
The government is reaping what it sowed. Burch, Brown, Cox, all made it clear for years that IB wasn’t welcome. IB took the hint. At the same time, other jurisdictions have been making business welcome, recognising that having a Head Office set up in your city is something that creates careers, livelihoods and opportunities. Bermuda’s leaders, on the other hand, somehow failed to see the link between business and prosperity.
Thankfully business leaders are now speaking out about it. Whether the political leaders of the country have the good sense to listen is another story.
Again, an azz-backward Bermuda government approach:
Surely there aren’t that many significant High-level employees [CEO's, Presidents,CFO's] so why not price those permits at a nominal processing fee for 10 years to encourage the company to settle roots here and charge a sensible price for all other permits. I would increase the length of all permits to 10 years. The stipulation would be that at the end of 10 years there would be no extension and this would be stamped in the permit holders passport. The permit holder would also be required to copy the following:
“I fully understand that this work permit will not be extended and that I have no rights whatsoever to long term residency in Bermuda.”
More expats bring more money into the economy. Work it out.
That’s asinine.
In ten year’s time the Company is then forced to either hire a new CFO or move the CFO to an overseas office. If he moves, guess where the CFO wants all of his accountants to be working? There go the entry level jobs in Bermuda. So you’ve now destroyed senior level positions AND entry level positions.
The ONLY requirement should be “Is there a Bermudian qualified to do the job?” if not the work permit gets renewed as long as the employee and the Company want.
Minister, if you want to “ensure that Bermudians are employed” then you have to persuade (and make it attractive for) Senior Executes to domicile here. With them, come jobs for Bermudians.
It is not a “either or” scenario. The 2 objectives work hand in hand.
Minister Minors concluded, “Overall while our first priority is to ensure that Bermudians are afforded employment, we are keen to create a climate that will help keep companies in Bermuda as partners in our Country’s long-term future.”
This is such an azz-backward statement that aptly reflects the Bermuda Government. First and foremost the efforts should be towards creating jobs by making the climate desirable to International Business. Once you take care of the ‘pennies’ the pounds will follow. That is, once Businesses are given an offer that is irresistable to set up shop here, the jobs will follow.
What I see this government doing is being fearful to approach the International Business to come here and would prefer to interview, catalogue, provide statistics on what we already know. People are unemployed because the economy is shrinking, jobs are leaving and new ones are not being actively sought after…argggh why do we need another survey? This stupidity is mind-numbing…
This government could not run a bath.
They can so! They’d just forget the stopper
Burch, Brown, Cox & now Minors. Any surprises why IB is vacating Bermuda? Minors gets batted around from Ministry to Ministry. A failure wherever she goes. What is her experience in IB? She did a tour that took her to Wall Street once?
The PLP have been a dream come true for our competing jurisdictions.