ST. GEORGE, GRENADA, SEPT 26. 2017, GIS: – Government is taking further steps to protect the labor force, with the approval in both Houses of Parliament of the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens Employment Cap Act.

A motion was brought before the Upper House at its last sitting, seeking to insert in the Principal Regulation of the Act, a revised Work Permit Application.

This application solicits additional information which will show that the labour that will be brought into the country does not exist or in is short supply.

It is also designed to show that all effort was made by the applicant to identify locals with the required skills set, and that the applicant will put measures in place for skills transfer.

The motion was introduced by Leader of Government Business, Sen. Simon Stiell, who assured that the intention is to protect the local labour force.

“The proposal before us in addition to being able to protect our local workforce, it also allows for genuine foreign work permits to be approved,” Senator Stiell said.

“So if there are genuine cases where Grenadians cannot fill those roles, once they have demonstrated that they have made every effort to seek a Grenadian worker, then those applications will be processed”.

Opposition Senator Nazim Burke commended the government for the move.

He describes it as a step in the right direction that will work in the best interest of Grenadians.

“I believe it is a laudable objective for the Government to seek to ensure that skills are transferred from foreign persons to local persons. So I have no difficulty with that idea at all,” Senator Burke said.

“This is a demonstration of intention and I believe that it’s a good thing to say and a good thing to do. I want to commend you Senator Stiell if this is your idea; I want to commend the Government if it is whosever idea it is”.