Cabinet Moves to Tighten Work Permit Process and Expand Job Advertising
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved new measures aimed at strengthening the work permit process and ensuring that more employment opportunities are first made available to Antiguans and Barbudans before foreign workers are hired.
Speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Cabinet reviewed the administration of work permit applications following a presentation from Labour Commissioner and officials from the One Stop Employment Centre (OSEC).
Merchant said Cabinet expressed concern that job vacancies may not always be reaching the widest possible audience and agreed that stronger measures were needed to improve transparency and public access to available positions.
Under the new approach, employers seeking work permits will be required to demonstrate that vacancies were advertised across multiple platforms, including traditional media, online news outlets, digital channels and the One Stop Employment Centre before applications are considered.
Cabinet also instructed labour officials to make greater use of state media and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to publicise available jobs and reach more job seekers.
According to Merchant, the move comes amid concerns from Cabinet members about repeated requests to import workers for positions they believe could be filled by local residents.
“Cabinet feels that there is something drastically wrong with that process because they believe that locals can assume those positions,” Merchant said during the briefing. He specifically questioned why applications were being made to import workers for jobs such as nannies, cooks and other categories of labour.
The government is also moving to tighten rules governing where work permit applications originate. Merchant said Cabinet noted that some applications are being made by individuals already in Antigua and Barbuda and indicated that future policy will require applicants to apply from their country of residence before travelling to Antigua and Barbuda for employment.
“Once the position cannot be filled here in Antigua and Barbuda, then the work permits will be granted,” Merchant said.
The Cabinet was also advised that additional scrutiny is being applied to certain categories of work permit applications, including requests for domestic workers, to ensure employers can justify the need and demonstrate the financial capacity to meet their obligations.
Officials say the changes are intended to strengthen labour market protections while ensuring qualified Antiguans and Barbudans have the first opportunity to fill available jobs.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Well said, but i think something needs to be done for the private security companies here in Antigua and Barbuda, because a lot of Antiguans and Barbudans don’t want to do security jobs…
Election done foreign voters go pay the consequences 🙄 im watching and listening ,your x go turn around and bang you red is beg so take that in you all nenen
Well done ministers because I have always said putting persons in high position especially in hostel industry is so wrong cause these people come with the slavery mentality thinking locals are stupid they completely go against labour and unions laws and is what I say how I say and forgot the company once ran before their arrival and then they leave with no significant mark left no real support they add nothing to make the industry better and what’s sad our very own ppl will help them with the nonsense
It is not a coincidence that these moves are happening after the general elections and not before. In most Caribbean elections, economic protection and the prioritization of local workers are very sensitive topics. The ruling administration in the past has faced political pressure and public concerns from locals regarding foreign labour participation in the growing leisure and service economies. By tackling this policy shift post-election, the government is now able to implement restrictive measures on our large foreign labour force without the immediate political pressure of the campaign trail. Timing is everything.
All this is just talk, I have heard this before and nothing has changed. Mark my word things will go on as usual. Antiguans believe any cock and bull story Labour put out. Outsiders are more favored by this Administration
Huh. We still using work permit?
Tell the foreign voters to take that , election done red you beg 😜
What a joke! Who are you fooling. I know of Antiguans out there with degrees and certifications who are looking for jobs. They keep getting turned down.
Here is a tip, stop tying the hands of the labour commissioner, Mr Cutie Benjamin.
Antigua lock the skill set, I understand why the government bringing in the Chinese to build 50 homes in Bolans because I saw the houses Chapa is now doing in the same area mercy me. Anyways where can I sign up for one of these Chinese houses?
No surprises here..
They couldn’t implement this before the Snap election or never even talked about it leading up to the Campaign, because this government is good at hoodwinking you fools who keep fallen for it.
The same as they did with the Spanish language doctrine, making it an official language of Antigua as soon as they won the election. They wanted votes on both ends to stay in power, so they kept this new policy from the foreigners,and the Spanish language doctrine from indigenous Antiguan’s. This is what the notion of ” friends to all and enemy to none” looks like..play all sides and use everyone for their own power.
All these things are implemented all of a sudden, but not one law has been implemented to combat crime, because crime pays, and GB is all about that good ole mighty $..So he kept all these things from the voters as to not upset them, so he can win their votes..
This man doesn’t like people, he just uses them..a two bit dirty swindler indeed. That’s all this man is.
He and his friend Cutie will take Antigua to the cleaners..just watch. More of these policies to come, now that he has gotten y’all votes.
Antiguan’s are politically dumb people, and this is not the government to make y’all more the wise. Transparency, yeah right? Keep looking for it from a crook. There is a reason thieves like to work in the dark.
Think people, think. When are you all gonna stop getting played out?
Yes I said it.
Just imagine the government is making sure there is a spot for locals and all your thinking of the votes? What you want exactly, you want the government to do nothing so that you can keep telling antigua Barbudans that Gaston don’t care about them? Is that it smh wake the hell up you obviously not paying attention to what is happening in Amerikkka
Well said but what to us for foreigners who labor hard was promise by our bosses/company to process our work permit and did not, but still took our benefit and we still not got a work permit sign by where does those benefit go. Some law/justice need to be put on that mrs/mr speaker. Cause leaving my kids behind to come and not getting necessary. So belive it a working progress all need to be looked in to. Thanks have blessed day
Comments are closed.