ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—The Grenada authorities earned greater than two million {dollars} (One EC greenback = US$0.37 cent) from the issuance of labor permits final yr, Labour Commissioner Sparkle Grenade Courtney has stated.
She stated that whereas 890 permits had been issued to international nationals, the Division would introduce a brand new format for processing work permits in 2025.
“On the Division of Labour, we administer the work allow program, and for the previous yr, now we have processed to date 890 work permits in various sectors …akin to development, tourism and hospitality, the yachting sector, {and professional} providers, at a worth of over two million {dollars},” she stated.
“It is a income exercise for the federal government of Grenada,” she stated, noting that final yr, the main focus was additionally on the legislative processes and procedures that govern the work allow course of to enhance and streamline in 2025.
The Estimate of Income and Expenditure for 2024 reveals that in 2023, the federal government earned EC$1,879,387 via work permits and is projected to earn EC$2,027,022 in 2024 and EC$2,151,065 in 2025.
Courtney stated that in 2025, plans embody digitalizing the work allow course of to make sure it’s faster and extra accessible and to adjust to the cupboard’s coverage of digitalizing authorities providers.
The Labour Commissioner additionally disclosed that in direction of the tip of final yr, the Division commenced a sequence of consultations with key stakeholders to replace them on the proposed adjustments and amendments to the work allow course of.
“We serve the enterprise group, we serve authorities ministries and departments, we serve the spiritual group, we serve the promoters, we serve a large cross of the society, and subsequently, to enhance the method, we have to hear from our stakeholders, and we began a sequence of session with them bringing to them the method adjustments and amends to the Act and the method and in search of their suggestions,” she stated.
“We’ve got already began to obtain important and essential suggestions that can inform a brand new and improved work allow course of in 2025,” she stated whereas explaining that the Division is conducting this course of along with the Guyana-based Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) Secretariat, given the CARICOM Single Market and Economic system (CSME) that enables for the free motion of products, abilities labor, and funds throughout the area.
“CARICOM will probably be introducing free motion, which may even have an effect on the work allow course of, and because of this some classes of individuals in CARICOM will not be required to have work permits to hunt employment in Grenada,” she stated.
