An Online Work Permit Processing Task Force is now in place to assist the Department of Labour and Workforce Development with the processing of the backlog of work permit applications.

The task force, which consists of mostly retired Civil Servants, has a deadline of one month to clear the backlog of applications from the now inactivated Online Work Permit System, as well as bring work permit processing times back in line with the department’s service standards.

The members are:

• Janice I. F. Rymer
• Dawn O’Neal George
• Marieta Headley
• Myrna Samuels
• Reginald Hodge
• Ernest Potter
• Devon Penn
• Keida Williams

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent Wheatley said that members of the taskforce would be calling employers or employees to furnish missing information or documents that are pertinent to complete the process.

Minister Wheatley said, “Employers who were not contacted by any of the Processing Officers or any member of the Online Work Permit Processing Task Force regarding their uploaded applications, are asked to submit a list with the names of all their outstanding work permit applicants. This must include their assigned application ID numbers which are to be emailed to wpportalhelp@gov.vg to verify that the relevant applications have been cleared or processed from the system.”

Employers are also asked to utilise the name of the business/employer as the subject, e.g. Outstanding Work Permit Application(s) – White Sandy Villas when submitting your emails.”

An appointment will be set and an email or text message will be generated, informing the successful applicant, or employer of the scheduled time and date to collect approved Renewal Work Permits. Employers or employees will also be notified via email or telephone when a New or New Change of Employer application has been approved or denied.

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development continues to to promote good Labour/Management practices at workplaces to ensure stable and harmonious labour relations between employers and employees, and to protect the rights, wages, working conditions, safety, health and welfare of workers through enforcement of the British Virgin Islands Labour Laws.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Photo 1: Official photo of Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent Wheatley

 (Photo credit: GIS)