THERE WAS a 6.7 per cent increase in the number of work permits granted last year by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, when compared to the previous year.
The figure moved from 2,594 in 2000, to 2,768 in 2001 according to the latest edition of the Ministry's Statistical Bulletin. It said the majority (70.2 per cent) of the applications were from new applicants.
Also showing an increase was the number of work permit applications approved. This figure increased by 15.1 per cent. The number of applications refused, declined by 2.5 per cent, from 81 to 79. All the persons refused permits during the period were new applicants. As was the case in 2000, the first quarter accounted for the highest number of applications received with 28.1 per cent, followed by the fourth quarter with 26.9 per cent.
Of the 2,878 applications which were approved, approximately 72 per cent were for males. A total of 785 or 27.2 per cent of the permits were granted during the final quarter followed by the first quarter with 748 or 26.0 per cent. An analysis of the figures by date reveal that the largest number of approvals was awarded in November which accounted for 346. This was followed by October with 275.
The countries with the highest number of approvals were India with 533 or 18.5 per cent and China with 510 or 17.7 per cent.
Work permits which were approved for 12 to less than 24 months, accounted for 1,544 or 53.6 per cent of total permits, followed by those issued for six to less than 12 months, with 556 or 19.3 per cent. The remaining categories for which permits were approved were: Less than three months 147 or 5.1 per cent; three to less than six months, 257 or 8.9 per cent; 24 to less than 36 months, 336 or 11.7 per cent; and 36 months and over, 39 or 1.4 per cent.
Two occupational groups were responsible for the majority of the permits issued. These were the administrative and management, and professional and technical categories.
With regard to specific occupations, the directors, managers, working proprietors and supervisors category was issued with the largest number of work permits, 1,162 or 40.4 per cent. This group was followed by the "other" professionals category which includes consultants, interpreters and systems analysts.
- L.S.
