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Employers can now uplift employees' renewal work permits

- employees would have to authorise upliftment
The Government of the Virgin Islands has announced that effective immediately, employers, agents, and Human Resources Managers (HRMs) will now be able to collect renewal work permits on behalf of their employees. Photo: VINO/File
Authorised Representation: Employers, agents, and HRMs must obtain written authorisation from the respective employee to collect their work permit. Written documentation must also be received from the employer, identifying the HRM or agent as the authorised representative of the business. Photo: affinitylawyers.ca/File
Authorised Representation: Employers, agents, and HRMs must obtain written authorisation from the respective employee to collect their work permit. Written documentation must also be received from the employer, identifying the HRM or agent as the authorised representative of the business. Photo: affinitylawyers.ca/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands has announced that effective immediately, employers, agents, and Human Resources Managers (HRMs) will now be able to collect renewal work permits on behalf of their employees.

This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour and Trade to streamline the work permit process, with the aim of making it more convenient for employers and their valuable workforce.

According to a press release from Government Information Service (GIS) today, June 26, 2023, the initiative is through the Department of Labour and Workforce Development to enhance the efficiency of the work permit process and improve the ease of doing business in the Territory.

Requirements

To qualify for this initiative, the following criteria must be met:

  • Authorised Representation: Employers, agents, and HRMs must obtain written authorisation from the respective employee to collect their work permit. Written documentation must also be received from the employer, identifying the HRM or agent as the authorised representative of the business.

  • Valid Identification: Employers, agents, and HRMs must provide valid identification, such as government-issued identification cards or company-issued identification badges, when collecting work permits. This requirement ensures a secure and reliable collection process.

  • Employee Presence in the Territory: The employee must be physically present in the BVI during the work permit renewal collection process.

  • Valid Immigration Stamp: The employee must possess a valid immigration stamp in their passport, which must be presented during the collection of the work permit.

  • Recent Passport-Sized Photo: A recent passport-sized photograph, taken within the last six (6) months, must be provided. This photo will be uploaded onto the employee's work permit card.

  • Compliance with Legal Requirements: Employers and employees must comply with all applicable labour laws and policies regarding work permits, including adhering to immigration laws and related legislation.

14 Responses to “Employers can now uplift employees' renewal work permits”

  • Well (26/06/2023, 15:49) Like (18) Dislike (6) Reply
    If the employee is in the island best them go for it themselves.
  • sex (26/06/2023, 16:02) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Now the boss can hold it over my head
  • Thinking (26/06/2023, 16:06) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    This is not a good idea. Reason is what if the individual wants to change their picture on the card? And what if they can't process them at Immigration Dept? Yes it does accommodate some workers but it should be reconsidered. These simple issues she looking to solve and running from the big issues such as the disputes that have the department FLOODED? What about the employers who don't want to settled with outstanding under paid staffs, staff who is working out of their job responsibilities, vacation pays, Layoffs, redundancies, holiday pay etc...SO LONG THEM HAVE SOMEONE FOR THE TRIBUNAL AND STILL CANNOT START AS YET...SMH
    • @Thinking (26/06/2023, 16:43) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      Do more THINKING than TYPING!!! Obviously this will only be done in certain situations. PLEASE READ! The employee MUST GIVE THE EMPLOYER PERMISSION TO COLLECT ON THEIR BEHALF. This means the employees are the ones with the right to collect their permit OR authorize someone to do so on their behalf so nothing to cry about here. An employer cannot simply go into Labour Dept and collect a permit without authorization by the employee.
      • Thanks (26/06/2023, 20:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Thank you for having sense because Thinking clearly was not thinking!!
    • SCG (29/06/2023, 06:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well said They employ you for one thing and then they make you do everything. They don't pay you properly. They don't give you a vacation. And they just say they're your boss.
  • kk (26/06/2023, 16:39) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
    I think that's a very good idea it have employees working for aĺ over the place all because the person who have their permit has no work for them thay just doing them a favor not paying tax ect iknow the time would have come
  • @ KK (26/06/2023, 18:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    YHAT WAS NEATLY PUT , HEY , ???? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER ( K ) ????
  • This is so confusing (27/06/2023, 06:27) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    My Grand mother use to always say, Smart, tricksy people are like cows, they will give you a nice bucket of milk have you feeling happy and as you finished milking the kick the container with the milk over...This is like one of those situations....Here is my concern / question. If the employee is in the Territory, why would they need the employer to collect their work Permit.? This will only make sense for the employer to collect if the employee is 1/ unavailable through sickness, or 2/ off Island and can produce proof of returning date..Lorna needs to come better...This ain't make no sense. This is a Cow move..
  • Umm (27/06/2023, 09:29) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is not really something that we need. if employee is off island like taking treatment or so and cannot collect their renewal or if they have to go away and their permit was in and its ready before they return the employer can collect same, but not when the employee must be in the islands. it have more serious stuff to work on like working for someone and they not paying you vacation pay nor some who never pay severance to employees but are still allowed to operate their business and their trade license renewed yearly.
  • CONFUSE (27/06/2023, 10:36) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    This still needs reviewing....How will the department know if the employee is in the territory? Anybody can send the passport to process and have it sent back to them. I don't think this should be done.
  • Yes but (27/06/2023, 11:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, but please explain to me WHY a renewal still takes 3 months, nothing changes, just another year and pay permit money. It seriously should be at max a 30min operation. You still employed, yep, your taxes / SS / NHI good -yep , great STAMP pay at the window -NEXT....
    • @yes but (27/06/2023, 12:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I had applied in April for renewal and a few of my coworkers applied before me and it didn't take 3 weeks. I find they were very quick in doing our renewals. Just apply 6 weeks upfront so your immigration time does not expired on you.
  • Think for a minute (27/06/2023, 18:38) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is great news as it means employees dont have to waste a whole day sitting in labor waiting around for them hogs to process your permit. Means they can be working and earning and being productive!


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