The number of work permits granted annually to foreign workers has almost tripled in the past five years, according to a senior representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF), Faith Innerarity, chief technical director in the Labour Ministry, reportedly said the number of permits granted rose from 2,256 in 2001 to 6,105 in 2005. Fifty per cent of these workers came from Asia.

Mrs. Innerarity said the Labour Ministry has expanded the work permit unit in response to this demand.

Before being granted permits employers will now be expected to show that they had attempted to fill the position locally and that, where gaps exist, they are training Jamaicans.

Regarding the suspension of permits to exotic dancers, she said a committee consisting of officials from the Labour and National Security ministries would review the decision which was made in light of concerns that they may be victims of human trafficking.