Minister Responds To Chamber On Immigration
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry today [Apr.4] responded to recent public comments emanating from the Chamber of Commerce regarding the Ministry’s work and term limit policies.
In a speech to the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday, Chamber executive vice-president Joanne MacPhee said “major immigration reform” was needed to make Bermuda more attractive to international firms.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice K. Minors [pictured] said she wanted to assure both the local and international business sectors that her Ministry is “striking a balance in these trying 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”.
That said, Minister Minors confirmed that an internal Work Permit Policy review has commenced.
The objective of the review is to update and clarify the Work Permit Policy and eliminate the nuisance factors associated with work permit processing such as exaggerated processing times. It should be noted that there are times where delays are attributable to efforts taken to ensure that Bermudians are given every opportunity to apply for jobs.
It is anticipated that new procedures will reduce the processing time for a substantive work permit from 10 weeks to 4 weeks. In fact, clients may have already started to experience quicker processing times as a result of some preliminary changes that have already been implemented.
Minister Minors said, “The Chamber will be aware that the Incentives for Job Creators Act became operational in January 2012 and is aimed at creating a climate that will help keep companies in Bermuda as partners in our country’s long-term future.
“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.
“To further ease the recruitment burden and maintain jobs in Bermuda, the 10-year work permit was introduced on the 1st of November, 2011. To date, two 10-year work permits have been issued and a number of potential applications are pending.”
Minister Minors continued, “The environment has changed since the approval of the initial longer term work permit policy with additional pressure to retain jobs here in Bermuda. It is therefore anticipated that the criteria for the 10-Year Work Permit will be extended to senior management teams and/or heads of departments within major companies. This proposed expansion of the eligibility criteria to include Heads of Departments will further complement the Incentives for Job Makers Act 2011.”
On the subject of term limits, Minister Minors said, “This is an area that has been the subject of much discussion. The purpose of the term limit policy is to discourage the expectation that work permit approval is tantamount to permanent residence rights in Bermuda.
“The reality is that at least 35% of work permit holders have been granted waivers from term limits and another 35% have been granted extensions. The practical effect is that the policy establishes clarity with respect to the residency issue but is flexible enough so as not to negatively affect the continuity of service of key employees for businesses.”
The Government continues to stand by its unifying message of “Let’s Build One Another Together”, and thus further consultation with stakeholders as it relates to the Work Permit Policy Review is anticipated in the coming weeks.
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We recently transferred a mid level employee to a European country on a multiyear contract. The immigration wait? None, there was simply a filing.
You and everyone else.
Companies don’t renew, they move personnel. Idiot PLP.
Most countries appreciate and encourage, on it’s own merit, that foreign business creates a revenue stream, produced by overseas commerce, which in turn generates wealth and employment in their own domain (currency exchange, taxes, property, support services, retail, entertainment, etc.) which would not be there otherwise………usually without need to impose further restrictive conditions such as who to employ, enforced training programmes, when they should leave, etc., etc.
yeah but…. “Bermuda is another world….700 miles at sea..” lalalala
In other words Minister Minors “dont hold your breath waiting for immigration policy to change”…same statements issued time and time again….but whats the use? how many times do they have to hear that term limits for IB people are a big big problem and with all of the other problems we now face why dont you just get the message….IB people do not want to stay here forever and are perfectly happy to leave when their career ends of circumstances change…..there is no great groundswell to stay eternally just to take career and life changes out of the hands of PLP Immigration Ministers…..capish?
Here’s another flip-flop.
Sorry Patrice but the horse has already left the stable (and flown to Zurich, Isl of Man, Ireland, etc., etc.,)
Have you seen the Colonel?
May I suggest the wait period for a work permit should be down to 4 weeks already since there are probably less than half the amount of work permit requests than say in 2009….Everyone has left already..
This lot just don’t have a clue. They have neither understanding nor appreciation of how the world works outside their very limited local sphere. This is compounded by their refusal to listen and learn. IF they do, it’ll be way too late. Hopefully most voters will see this and get rid of them before they inflict further, fatal damage on our economy and Island.
They have already caused extreme harm and the dumbo circus rolls on….
When work permits are liberalised to give IB more “Red Carpet and less Red Tape” can we then focus on liberalising the following human rights abuses:
1) Bermudians born after 2 August 1989 not being given Status.
2) Spouses of Bermudians waiting 10 years to be given Status, irrespective of the children, community ties and investment they have in Bermuda.
More Red Carpet for All who have a legitmate right to be here, not just “Job Creators” please.
Time for Equality and Time for Change.
OBA or PLP – deliver on these two (2) points and you have the election victory in the bag. Be “Bold” and take some “Bold Steps” as the Premier articulated before her most recent Cabinet shuffle.
Mr & Mrs Oppressed awaiting “Red Carpet”
how tru
PARENTS HERE FOR 30 PLUS YEARS AND NO STATUS
DAM THE ONE ON PERMITS NO CAR AND NO FAMILYS ALLOWED
DE RICH GET 2 CARS BERMUDA STATUS CAUSE OF DIS $$$$$$$ DE LOVE OF MONEY IS DE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
ITS OK DE GOOD LORD DOESNT SLEEP ; – (
SAD BUT FUNNY
So after 14 years of letting IB know that it was not welcome, suddenly, right before the election, Work Permits will be processed in 4 weeks rather than 10 weeks? What a bunch of amateurs.
Too late, you idiots. They’ve all either gone, or have plans to leave.
And hoe is it the processing can suddenly now be done in less than half the time, by the way? Have you decided not to be such p…..s about it, or are Immigration going to do a full days work for once? It must be one or the other. You can’t suddenly miraculously do things 60% faster.
Firstly it was the coronal Burch that caused this mess that were in. And this guy wants to return to politics!!! He needs to stay on the sidelines and P lease L eave P olitics to the people who know what their doing (OBA)! Secondly Patrice Minors was the worse tourism minister we’ve ever seen and had and she’s just as bad in her new portfolio as Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry – she makes one decision then flip flops and makes another. She should do like Burch and the rest of the PLP and P atrice L eave P olitics! PLP all the way! Please Leave Politics – you all don’t know what your doing and you have ruined Bermuda. We can’t take it anymore! Paula please call the election so the PLP can P.L.P.
A reduction from 10 weeks to 4.
The defective machine at the Marsh Folly Dump which has been out of service for 5 months,will now be repaired in a few days.
Must be an election on the horizon!
both Parties must stop ignoringbthe need for fairness and equality in the immigratiom system
our success is as a result of a high concentration of intellectual capital in IB
free up the work permits, but also give bermudians and their families some equity and respect
did Louise Jackson wait 10 years for Bermuda status?
how long did uncle Bob’s wife wait
time to stop disciminating against talented foreign workers and bermudians who deserve equality
Patrice, I’m not a PLP supporter. I had supported some of what they did at first, until this Term Limit jive was introduced! Then I lost all respect. I also don’t appreciate, as a business owner, being FORCED to hire a Bermudian in order to retain foreigners! STOP treating them like they’re aliens! Instead, hire people that go around and check on illegal workers (those WITHOUT permits), and fine the employers in addition to NEVER allowing them to ever hire another foreigner again! TALK to the employers and LISTEN to what they have to say! Especially the ones that know what they’re talking about and who work hard in the community! This country is CRYING and it’s deeply troubling the divisiveness caused by the PLP! Good luck, Ms. Minors! I truly hope you can get past the stupidity!
So you think work permits were created by the PLP and you dont like being FORCED to hire Bermudians! This speaks volumes!!
The basic problem is that nobody in Government has a clue what it takes to run a business, whether it be a guy running a landscaping crew or an IB employing several hundred. Nor are they interested in learning and have instead chosen to suck the enthusiasm and verve out of businesses in Bermuda with stupid, ignorant, sel-defeating rules that serve no real purpose other than to make life difficult for those who are in fact the life blood of this place.
And let’s not forget how this Government managed to destroy future prosperity by taking a 200 million dollar surplus and turning it into a billion plus of debt, i.e not a safe place to invest because the Government is likely to want your money…for its own disgusting nouveau riche, parasitic cronies who have destroyed Bermuda.
Oh you are too kind Victor. Tell us how you really feel. Agree with you 100% BTW.
Really, nothing better can be expected of them. How many business owners are there in their line up vs how many have spent most of their lives on a Government paycheck?
Being a Government worker pays FAT cheques BYE! I’VE WON THE LOTTERY BYE!!!!
@Amazed: Who said work permits were created by the PLP? No one…that’s who! When you learn to READ and UNDERSTAND, then maybe you might make some sense when you speak!
Enjoy being a government worker but if things keep getting worse they will be next to go can’t be a gomint worker with no people to pay tax ie your wages , common sense wait till after the election cuts will be made ,it’s where all the money is going there are more workers in global house than tourists we get all year. It won’t take long .