Minister Thanks Public: Work Permit Feedback
The Minister of Home Affairs, Michael Fahy thanked those members of the public and organisations who provided feedback to the draft work permit policy, which was released to the public on October 1st 2014.
The Ministry said the submissions will now be reviewed for possible inclusion in the work permit policy which should come into effect on December 1st 2014. A final version of the new policy will be published in the coming weeks.
Minister Fahy said, “I am extremely impressed with the quality of feedback we received and I look forward to releasing the final version to the public once any remaining amendments are made.”
The Minister also moved to clarify certain issues that were a source of consternation explaining that, “for the first time, certain permit categories will require training programs to be in place, along with opportunities for Bermudians. In addition, short term work permits will not be issued without advertising in most circumstances.”
The Minister concluded, “There are a number of exciting changes within this new policy which the Government believes will encourage investment but will also lead to job growth and opportunities for Bermudians.
“The revision was undertaken to keep Bermuda current in an ever-changing, highly competitive world and show we are indeed open for business.
“The aim of these policy changes is to help turn around the economy in ways that benefit Bermudians directly and indirectly, to cut red tape, to make the system more user friendly and transparent and to provide new training and career opportunities for Bermudians.”
The full 50-page Draft Work Permit Policy document is below [PDF here]
The following portion of the O.B.A. presentation is a boost in morale, it’s so darn refreshing…
“The aim of these policy changes is to help turn around the economy in ways that benefit Bermudians directly and indirectly, to cut red tape, to make the system more user friendly and transparent and to provide new training and career opportunities for Bermudians.
Why hasn’t the so called ‘Bermudianization’ worked in earnest all of this time? Don’t care how you twist and slice the wording of this draft. It’s still the same decades long policy pumped up to a more damning degree to favour the exempt company such that the draft policy in its present form will, more than ever, create such a system of circumvention and manipulation of displacing Bdians it will make your head spin. Watch and see.
Two things, ” just a matter of time ” Do i really have to remind you that the IB sector gives all of us 85% of our income also bearing that in mind, if it was so easy to put Bermudians first, do you have any logical reason as to why the plp did not do it??? Why dont you try dropping your ” manipulation of Bermudians stuff” and do what most successful Bermudians have done?? Take advantage of the plentiful opportunities that the IB sector has handed us???
If you’re qualified to work for an exempt company, then you have the right to apply for a job with them. If you’re not qualified, to be blunt, if you’re not smart enough, you won’t get the job….why is that so difficult for you to understand?
Educate yourself, don’t expect a handout simply because you’re Bermudian.
I submitted what I thought were helpful suggestions…I will be shocked if any of them are implemented. A more recent application ran to 43 pages…plus 14 pages for the really ‘helpful’ Recruitment Disclosure Form documenting three Bermudians who were not even remotely qualified for the role but knew how to apply on the Bermuda Job Board. 57 pages in all. We are rapidly approaching the bureaucracy level seen in the UK and the US. But the new policy will eliminate any REFUNDS for portions of the unused permits to “ease the load on Immigration staff…”. I am afraid I am skeptical of the Minister’s claim “to cut red tape, to make the system more user friendly and transparent..”
When are certain segments of this community gonna realise that the Bermuda dollar MEANS NOTHING PAST NORTH ROCK.
Certain folk need to get it and truely get it, that when you take a Bermuda dollar and present it overseas to pay for your purchases it means NOTHING, NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH.
We NEED foreign exchange to survive and pay our bills – such as when you grocery shop your grocery store has to pay its overseas supplier in US dollars for even that loaf of pepperidge farm bread that you pick up, as BDA dollars are not accepted overseas. Simple as that. Got it yet?
And I don’t believe in handouts by the way which is what many of these companies do hiring their friends and allowing them to learn on the job without being fully qualified first. Seen it many times. I believe in leveling the playing field which has rarely been the case and is exacerbated now with this new policy.
Yet another baseless claim to try and make a point that supports your position. It is significantly less expensive for International Business companies to hire qualified Bermudians than to bring in an expat and incur those expenses while they “learn on the job”. This draft work permit policy does nothing to change that economic reality.
“And I don’t believe in handouts by the way which is what many of these companies do hiring their friends and allowing them to learn on the job without being fully qualified first.”
Any examples? any proof of this whatsoever, or are you just trying to save face?