Population regime 'will finish us off'
A SIGNIFICANT proportion of seasonal workers could be forced to leave when the new population management regime comes into force next year, businesses have warned, under changes they say could cripple some industries.
Hoteliers, restaurants, cleaning and property services firms are just some of those affected under the changes to short-term, non-essential licences and the open market, under the regime, which comes into force from 3 April next year.
Among the key changes would see the period of residence for short-term licence holders capped at an aggregate of five years in total – with a need to then take a break in residence.
As well as the impact the changes will have on businesses, concerns have also been raised about how well informed those affected individuals are, including seasonal workers, were.
Honorary Consul of Latvia in Guernsey, Lilita Kruze, has taken up her concerns with the authorities, which she said had held workshops with employers about the changes but not directly with employees.
While she said it was for the employers to inform their staff, this might not have happened.
