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Mrs Michelle A. McLean confirmed as Labour Commissioner
According to the same source, her appointment was backdated to January 2022. Mrs McLean, no stranger to the Labour Department, joined the civil service in 1988 and the then Labour Department in 2012.
She comes to the office with a wealth of knowledge having had years of experience in the field of Human Resources Development. The new Labour Commissioner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.
Mrs Mclean also holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management and many believe the officer is well equipped to carry out the mandate of the Department.
No one can get a work permit, delays?
Over the past year the Labour Department has been under fire from the business community and talk show hosts for the backlog of work permits for processing and the slow pace for new and renewal applications.
However, the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said that the Labour Commissioner cannot be blamed for the delay, as the issue is lack of adequate staffing at the Department. He noted in a public forum with the business community a few weeks ago that he is in touch with the Deputy Governor’s Office who is responsible for public officers to get the necessary increase in staffing, so the Department can function.
He also noted that because there has been a boom in economic activities under his Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Administration, following the continued reopening of the Territory from the COVID-19 restrictions, requests for work permits have skyrocketed overnight.
Who to blame for work permit delays?
Some critics have noted that part of the problem for the delay was that everything, both new applications and renewals, had to be processed online and the system was not ready to be launched, which contributed to more delays. Others have said that the delays came when applications had to still go to the Immigration Department for clearances, taking sometimes up to another two weeks.
Meanwhile, persons requiring work permits have complained that it is unfair that they have to continually pay for extensions to remain in the territory and also have to pay the full cost of the permits when they eventually become ready.
Mrs McLean is a Virgin Islander and also served in several Government Departments before moving to the Labour Department. She is also a Commissioner of Oaths.
The new Labour Commissioner did not respond to our request for a comment up to the time of publication.
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