Mister Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity again to address this Honourable House and the people of this Territory. Today, I want to give an update on the lay-off period and severance pay matters for employers and employees of businesses in these Islands.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is reminding employers to submit detailed information on persons they employed under the 1000 Jobs in 1000 Days Programme to be eligible for the 10 percent compensation of the total salaries paid.

The public is notified that effective February 1, persons who are out of the Territory for six months or more with expired work permits will be required to submit new applications, as their expired permits will no longer be renewable.

The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands has made the decision to extend the current lay-off period for employees to 28 February 2021.

Persons who have expired entry permits, work permits and work permit exemptions are to contact the respective departments to make an appointment to facilitate the regularising of their permits.

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is reminding the public to take note of the following schedule:

Work permit holders are notified that the Immigration Department has extended the waiver of the issuance of extensions to entry permits until January 31, 2021.

Employers, and online and print media are being reminded of the procedure to advertise job vacancies in the Virgin Islands.

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is reminding business owners that work permit applications submitted during the month of December must be accompanied by copies of the requisite 2021 Trade Licences

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is informing employers that effective December 3, new Work Permit applications will no longer require the approval of the Honourable Minister for Labour prior to submission of applications.