The Department of Economic Development has launched a new free service for employers who hold work permits for any of their staff. This will enable them to apply to renew permits online and review the details of any permits they hold or have applied for.
The new service is being launched following an extensive pilot and employers may now register and gain secure access to their records. Once ‘inside’ the work permit database employers can apply to renew or cancel existing work permits and audit those they hold with minimal effort.
Minister for the Department of Economic Development, John Shimmin MHK said:
'This is precisely the kind of service that industry needs Government to improve upon and I am pleased that the Department of Economic Development is making this step forward. Employers can now save a great deal of time, as their renewal applications and work permit cancellations no longer need to be posted, and any necessary payment can be made immediately.'
Political Member for Skills and Employment, Tony Wild MLC added:
'I am pleased that we are making it easier for employers to comply with this legislation and optimistic that the online service will help ensure the process is as efficent as possible. During January over 90% of permits were processed within 10 days and the Department believes we can use this new service to improve on this still further in 2012.'
Employers registering for online services will receive a personal log allowing them to view all work permits currently in place for their organisation. Previously auditing work permits required HR officers to contact the work permit office to make enquiries regarding details held, but now this can be done automatically, saving time for both the organisation and the work permit office.
Employers can also directly check and update the details of each work permit they hold, apply to renew any work permits due to expire and cancel any permits that are no longer required. The system can also be interrogated so that they can obtain information such as which permits are due to expire first, or which permits have been held the longest.
For further details visit www.gov.im/onlineservices.
