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12000 work permits issued yearly in the VI- SFC Report

-number reflects both new & renewed work permits
Acting Labour Commissioner, Department and Workforce Development Mr Mervin D. Hastings has said they issue on average twelve thousand work permits annually. Photo: GIS
The Labour Department is aiming to have a promotion drive to emphasise VI community registration for the new labour management system. Photo: Internet Source
The Labour Department is aiming to have a promotion drive to emphasise VI community registration for the new labour management system. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Acting Labour Commissioner, Department and Workforce Development Mr Mervin D. Hastings has said they issue on average twelve thousand work permits annually.

This was revealed during the Standing Finance Committee (SFC), appointed by the House of Assembly (HoA), held in November and December 2024, to examine the Draft Estimates for the Year 2025.

According to the Report from the SFC, Mr Hastings replying to a question from Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), confirmed the average number of work permits yearly was around 12, 000 inclusive of new and renewals.

300 work permits denied in 2023

Mr Hastings also told the SFC that in 2023, a total of 300 work permits were denied by the department.

This was due to “false information, repeat offenders or the employer did not have legitimate work on the island”, he explained.

Mr Hastings also informed the SFC that as of October 31, 2024, all work permit renewals had been processed online and by that time also they had a total of 9,923 work permits in addition to 2023 numbers.

Official Labour Management System

Meantime, Mr Hastings explained to the SFC that the new labour system highlights, by discipline, how many work permits are being applied for, which informs the approach to the Workforce Assessment of the entire Virgin Islands.

“As a result, the Labour Department targets certain areas to facilitate the unemployed talent pool of Virgin Islanders (who would have been encouraged to register with the LD when the team went to each district) honing in on their skills,” the report identifies Mr Hastings as explaining.

Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Minister for Health and Social Services, commended the Labour Department on the official launch of the database search system in June 2024.

“This will be helpful,” he said.

Mr Hastings in providing some statistics said the number of businesses locally added to the system is 648; employees registered is 558; number of employees added currently is at 3930; job seekers registered currently was only 301; and 86 jobs available.

He also said the Labour Department is aiming to have a promotion drive to “emphasise VI community registration for this new labour management system so that they can be cognisant of what jobs are available”.

10 Responses to “12000 work permits issued yearly in the VI- SFC Report”

  • simple (11/01/2025, 13:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    For this small country to have 12,000 work permits tells you that we are thriving as a Territory. There is work in abundance, but unfortunately, many persons are not working and many, many are under employed. It is time for this system to be properly overhauled. We can start with making sure before work permits are handed out willy nilly, proper efforts are made to fill positions from within. I see no reason why shelf stockers and many entry level positions can't be sourced locally instead of from all the way across the Pacific.
  • Informed (11/01/2025, 14:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    12000 / 52 weeks a year 230 per week
    230 per week 46 per day
    It still baffles as an employer why it takes over 3 months to process new or renewals. We loose days of employees getting extensions to renew work permits. The new online system takes longer to submit and there are constant clithces which need fixing. We can employ more people if we can speed up the process of work permits. We advertise and get very little Response if at all locally so have to widen the net to attract oversea applicants.
    The economy will boom if this process was fixes to a 28 day for new permits and 14 days for renewals which is really not unreasonable.
  • ... (11/01/2025, 14:33) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    too much work permit yet locals can't find work
  • Interesting (11/01/2025, 14:51) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Something don't sound right. I believe it way more than that. The population is around 30,000. Go figure?
  • Mr. Hastings (11/01/2025, 15:04) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    He is doing an awesome job. I do hope they give him the position as he is well equipped to handle the challenges that face the Department of Labour & Workforce Development.

    • LOL (11/01/2025, 17:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hasting this have to be you writing a comment, even the staff under him know he don’t know the labour laws and just winging it.
  • Really (11/01/2025, 15:34) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    You all dumb with no sense. You was born into a world with everything. Why do you need a work permit ? Employers need you to work but of course you obey every law to enslave you keep you in place. The work permit is a trillion dollars business to the Elites. They get rich off you by lying about everything and all you do is pain
  • @Interesting (11/01/2025, 15:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The actual workforce can only be around 22,000 strong for that is 30,000 less seniors and children and lots of young locals who know nothing about available positions. This is so because the work permit holders who are on the inside always have a friend or family member that is hardworking and comes highly qualified. More visitors working than locals is the long and short of it, which is sad. I am a National who never one day never wanted to work and I know many, many others. That is the excuse expats themselves use to keep us out of businesses. Unfortunately, the local employers agree with them. They prefer to put up with the nonsense the work permit holders dole out and not their own to save a couple hundred dollars. Most workers come with challenges but a qualified supervisor overseeing them can fix that fast.
  • Truth (11/01/2025, 16:54) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    This man is a fraud and does not look out for locals Belanger or ppl living here for years. He also sides with companies when you' fil a complaint against them. They use his side business for their corporate get aways so of course he don't want to lose that.
    • WOW (11/01/2025, 17:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      So crazy I’ve heard this from multiple people, that side business of his is a conflict of interest and he need to decide which he want to do! He a sell out honestly!


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