Op-ed comes from Vance Campbell, Shadow Minister for Economy and Labour
One Bermuda Alliance op-ed:
“The Government should have sought consultation on its updated work permit policy before it was updated, not after,” says Vance Campbell, Shadow Minister for Economy and Labour. “It feels like members of the public are an afterthought.”
“Will the Government make further changes to the policy based upon that feedback?” MP Campbell ponders.
“During his press conference Minister Hayward stated there would be balance between employment and immigration in Bermuda. When he refers to balance, what does that look like? What data or metrics can the Ministry provide so that we can all know when we have reached this proper balance? How many work permits are we away from reaching this proper balance? What is the ratio of jobs held by Bermudians versus non-Bermudians that would equate to this proper balance?”
MP Campbell continues: “Mr Hayward also mentioned that realistic conditions will be in place to enable Bermudians to find work while at the same time ensuring that suitably qualified non-Bermudians in specific categories be permitted to work on the island.
“What are these realistic conditions? How are they achieved or measured? Have the conditions before not been realistic? What made them unrealistic? Without data and other metrics, it appears that these statements are designed to make Bermudians feel good and nothing else.”
He also notes that the completion day for permits keeps shifting: “First it was 20 days, now it’s 30 with the caveat that it could be sooner. Why not choose one deadline and stick to it to take the guessing out of the equation. Employers need to be assured that work permits will be consistently processed year-round.”
In regard to eliminating the processing of duplicate applications, MP Campbell is asking Minister Hayward to provide more clarity: “What changes will be made to ensure that duplications are nullified? How many of the 10,000 work permit-related applications were duplicated? Were the duplicated applications also accompanied by duplicate payments?”
No matter what changes are made to policy, if little is done to enhance enforcement, the results will not change, he adds.
“This Government is once again failing to make the necessary changes leading to meaningful immigration reform that will address our challenges with emigration, a shrinking population and an aging population, both in the short-term and for the long-term.”
ENDS
