Labour Department in shambles; A work permit took 1 year!- SFC
It was the Acting Deputy Labour Commissioner (DLC) Ms Althea Guishard who told members of the SFC that “the department is seriously short-staffed to the point where it is very difficult to function.”
Ms Guishard stated that they “really do need funds for additional staff.”
Currently, the Department has been neglected by the government, with many senior posts not filled for years. These include the Workforce Development Manager, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Labour Officers , Labour Protection Officer for Inspections, Labour Relations Officer to name a few.
Minister says he fighting for Department
The Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and Member of the Second District, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull, stated that since May 5, 2022, when he “arrived in the department, the longest work permit situation he has dealt with took 1 year.”
The Minister noted that he cannot “stress enough the importance of the resources needed to staff the Labour Department to deal with the demands.”
Hon Turnbull mentioned that the Acting DLC is holding the fort as best as she can, having the responsibility to do her work, the work of the Acting Labour Commissioner and also the Deputy Commissioner.
Millions made from work permits
The public continues to complain about the poor services of the Labour Department; however, it is no fault of the staff, as there are no staff to do the work. Despite all of the issues, the department was still able to rake in some $6.9M last year in work permit fees.
The issue of the current Labour Commissioner, Michelle A. Venzen McLean, is unclear at this time, as she was sent on leave- a move many see as victimisation.
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40 Responses to “Labour Department in shambles; A work permit took 1 year!- SFC”
Same feeling as well, now, I am going to say what I gotta say. If you don’t like what I have to say, you can kick some empty cans down the dirt road. The staff got to damn comfortable, complacent and @%$**g stagnant, just sheer incompetence. Time for a big shake up in that department. And this …………..Labour Minister don’t know what he is doing.
Come on people, by now it should be clear that this is not about the Minister of Labour but the managers and management of the department. How many governments in and out and always the same story?
First what is the problem that the commissioner is on leave?
Is she under investigation as well?
Why one person has to be doing two position where there is other staff memebers can hold one of the post?
It have numerous staff and who are qualified and been there for many years where i know that they are capable of getting the job done and are willing to be promoted.
I know there is adequate monies to give a raised instead of finding new workers to have to trained employees for the positions that need to be filled.
WAKE UP MR.TURNBULL!!!! ELECTION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!
" The issue of the current Labour Commissioner, Michelle A. Venzen McLean, is unclear at this time, as she was sent on leave- a move many see as victimisation."
Victimisation?!? She was ineffective, a bottleneck in the works. The process got to her desk and ground to a halt. Dead End.