The Minister for Economic Development Laurence Skelly MHK says that changes to the work permit system announced by the Chief Minister in Tynwald will give greater certainty to Isle of Man employers and their prospective employees seeking to take up employment in the Isle of Man and reduce the bureaucracy around applications.
The Minister said:
‘These changes will help our drive towards even greater economic growth and recognise the increasingly diverse and dynamic economy in the Isle of Man. They balance the interests and needs of local employers, Isle of Man workers and prospective workers, and their families.’
The key changes, effective from October 1st 2015, include:
- Most work permits will now be issued for a period of five years, instead of requiring annual renewal as is currently the case;
- The Department will have more flexibility to grant or to remove exemptions for work permits, including the power to exempt if it considers the employment of a person to be in the national interest;
- It will be easier for the spouses or civil partners of permit holders or people who are exempt from work permits to work on the Island.
From December 2015 it is intended that it will also be possible to apply for a work permit online, so reducing the overall time to make an application and making it a more efficient process for employers.
Further information will be provided shortly by the Department about these changes, including how they will affect employers and individuals seeking renewal of existing permits.
The Minister continued:
‘We wanted to give greater certainty and reassurance to the spouses and civil partners of workers who are contemplating working in the Isle of Man.
‘Together with the other initiatives outlined in the Chief Minister’s speech I am confident that we have significantly improved the Isle of Man’s offering for employers and potential investors.’
