By Dionne Rose, Staff ReporterTHE MINISTRY of Labour and Social Security will be strengthening its investigative capabilities in order to better monitor applicants who are granted work permits for a specific period of time in the country.
The strengthening of the team is in light of the Ministry's re-introduction of work permits for foreign nationals, which takes effect on August 3.
"It is not business as usual," said Debbie Tyson-Hutchinson, public relations manager at the Ministry. She was speaking against the background of the Ministry's former relaxed attitude towards those who breached the system.
Mrs. Tyson-Hutchinson said that more persons would be assigned to the team to monitor applicants and ensure that they comply with the stated time they apply for.
NEW FEE STRUCTURE
A new fee structure will also be introduced on August 3 and the Ministry has started issuing new application forms while sensitising personnel at the National Commercial Bank where the fees will be paid.
Applicants must collect an application form from any of the Ministry's local offices, except for St. Catherine, and then submit the required documents along with the application form to the Ministry.
Applications are processed within four to six weeks but Mrs. Tyson-Hutchinson pointed out that allowances would be granted in cases of emergency. She disclosed that new tamper-proof cards would also be issued to successful applicants.
The cost for a work permit varies, with those issued for three months attracting a fee of $10,000. Foreign nationals working over three months but not more than six months will be required to pay $20,000, while those requesting a permit to work for more than six months but not exceeding nine months will pay $30,000.
Applicants for a period of nine months to a year will be required to pay $40,000. If the work permit is required for more than a year, the fee charged is calculated on an incremental basis. This means that $10,000 will be charged for every three-month period thereafter.
EXEMPTED
Caribbean nationals, such as university graduates who are
a part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are exempted from these fees. When the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) comes on stream in 2005, other Caribbean nationals whose countries fall under the CSME will also be exempted.
Currently, 5,000 foreign nationals are holders of work permits, with an additional 4,000 exempted. The re-introduction of the fees was announced by Horace Dalley, Minister of Labour and Social Security, during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Gordon House.
