Statistics: Work Permit Term Limit Extensions
Senator Kim Wilson, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, spoke at the Association of International Bermuda Companies (ABIC) AGM this afternoon. Her remarks contained a detailed breakdown of active work permits and the number that have been granted waivers, extensions and those subject to term limits. The applicable section of her speech follows below:
The one issue that seemed to dominate our discussions on Monday was the issue of term limits. As a result, I requested the relevant data from the Department of Immigration and I’d like to take just a minute to share a few statistics with you.
Of the 6,817 active work permits, 35% or 2,394 have been granted waivers; a further 35% have been granted extensions and 30% or 2,037 are subject to term limits of six years.
A closer look at the 35% that have been granted extensions indicates that the extensions that have been granted range from 1-year to 10-years. In fact, these extensions provide for up to 16-years in some cases.
That is:
- 113 are conditional on their spouse’s waivers or extensions
- 446 were granted 1-year extensions giving them a total of 7 years
- 304 were granted 2-year extensions giving them a total of 8 years
- 1,189 were granted 3-year extensions giving them a total of 9 years
- 71 were granted 4-year extensions giving them a total of 10 years
- 58 were granted 5-year extensions giving them a total of 11 years
- 196 were granted 7-year extensions giving them a total of 12 years; and
- 9 were granted 8-year to 10-year extensions giving them a total of 14 to 16 years.
While the raw figures do not tell the individual stories behind each extension that has been approved or denied, it is believed that the correct balance is being achieved.
I think I speak for many Bermudians when I say that it is refreshing to see a government minister using real and detailed information in reference to an issue. Good job Senator Wilson! Keep up with the open-book governance!!!
It is nice to see the data!!! I guess that is because she is a lawyer and is making sure all inoformation is available. Really refreshing to see a change in the leadership.
Still more data needed which can and should have been provided such as which areas where extensions granted? Are we talking bartenders, hotel workers, labourers, accountants? Where were the extensions granted?
Minister Weeks detailed this (partially) at the student dinner in London. While not a complete list, here are some of the figures:
* 40 Pharmacists
* 391 Nurses
* 46 Physiotherapists
* 1,058 accountants
* 231 underwriters
* 512 masons
’6,817 active work permits’…..so far I have counted 2278 from ‘some of the figures’. That’s about 1/3 of the permits. To make data relevant you have to provide at least 65% of the data. These jobs are skilled positions, I wonder how many ‘unskilled’ positions are taken by work permit holders? Before you all go praising the minister’s information, be sure to take note that the data is very limited and falls very short of looking at the whole picture.
Did I not make it clear that it was a partial list? I was just trying to help you out with the information that was available but outside of this article.
I also do not see where I was praising anyone. What exactly is your problem?
It is indeed very refresshing to see some of this data since it gives context to the vexed question of whether or not term limits are applied appropriately. I think one of the fundamental questions to be addressed is how do the expatriate workers compare to qualified Bermudians when they are first recruited to Bermuda. The discussion around hiring Bermudians often arises during work permit renewals and Bermudians sometimes complain that they are not given the same opportunities for training and development as their expatriate counterparts.
I trust that Minister Wilson will be able to spearhead more open discussion on this matter since at least 2 things are clear.
1- Bermudians must positively embrace the international business sector in order for the sector to be sustained in the long term
2 – we need to move from the current confrontational atmosphere of discussion to a constructive atmosphere that recognises the mutual benefits of having an international business sector in Bermuda. It is clear that the local economy benefits from their presence and it is equally clear that their presence is not a charitable endeavour!!
@ Devin….I had already read the breakdown list that was provided. I look at all details provided before I make a comment. My part about the praise was not directed at you but at those that commented since I know they will read all the comments. I have no problem maybe you do as you do not seem to grasp the scope of how data should be presented in order for it to be valid.