| KINGSTON, July 1 (JIS): |
 Minister
of Labour and Social Security, Horace Dalley, has said that Cabinet
has taken a decision to re-introduce a fee structure for the granting
of work permits to foreign nationals wishing to work in Jamaica.Making his contribution to the 2004/05 Sectoral Debate in the House yesterday (June 30), Mr. Dalley said that the new fees would take effect on August 1 this year. “Where an applicant is successful, the following fees would be imposed. For a period of up to three months, an amount of $10,000 would be charged; for a period in excess of three months, but less than six months, the amount would be $20,000; for a period in excess of six months but less than one year, the amount would be $40,000; and for a period in excess of one year, an additional $10,000 would be charged for each three-month period, or any part thereof,” the Minister outlined. Mr. Dalley explained that in structuring the fees, several elements had been taken into account, including a processing fee for application, which would be $1,000; a work permit fee for successful applicants, based on the duration of the working period; and a replacement fee of $500. The Minister pointed out that in recent times, the question of policies regarding the issuing of work permits had become a matter of public concern and that the matter had been raised at a tripartite Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) meeting in May last year. As a consequence, he said that a sub-committee of the LAC was appointed to examine the existing policies and to make recommendations as to how to improve the legislative and administrative framework for the granting of work permits. “It is important from the Government’s standpoint, that I make it clear that in the context of promoting competitiveness and the free movement of labour within the region, our considerations and recommendations should in no way seek to discourage foreign direct investment, or the migration of skills into Jamaica,” the Minister said. Mr. Dalley said the Ministry would continue its work of ensuring that adequate steps are taken to protect local skills, as well as to benefit from highly skilled labour from overseas, by strengthening the legislative framework and administrative processes governing the granting of work permits and the free movement of labour. “At the same time, we must intensify our work through the respective Ministries and statutory bodies to bring about greater skills training and improved competencies of the Jamaican labour force,” the Minister stressed. |
