Non-EU resident work permits ‘a step in the right direction’

A number of hoteliers have said the introduction of the new permits, which will allow those from outside the EU to enter into a role for a nine-month period followed by leaving the island for three months, is a positive.

Old Government House Hotel general manager Andrew Chantrell said it was a fantastic move by Home Affairs, which he hoped would help with the challenges faced by the hospitality industry.

‘It’s a positive step from Home,’ he said.

‘Brexit has made it tough for hospitality businesses and because of the uncertainty of it we are going through a very challenging period.

‘For us in recent years, we have had to look at other ways to help with staff shortages – this included switching teams around to ensure we could continue to operate. We’ve been lucky to have team members who have a desire to help, but there have been others that have had to close.

‘This change will give businesses the opportunity to look outside the EU for staff.

‘It’s a fantastic move to help the industry fill roles that have for a number of years been so hard to fill.’

Duke of Normandie general manager Alan Sillett agreed.

‘We’ve had staff shortages for the last two or three years,’ he said.

‘Although I don’t think it will solve the recruitment or retention problem it will go a long way towards it.

‘It is new, though, so we will see how it goes and if it works well, hopefully the process will become even smoother by 2021.’

The short-term permits are open to the majority of hospitality roles including waiting, bar staff and housekeeping, with a reduced fee to change work permits already issued.

There is also a more streamlined application process which it is hoped will see applications processed in six to 12 weeks compared with between five and 10 months for the five-year permit.

However, Wayside Cheer owner Ken Smith said this still was not quick enough.

‘In Jersey I’ve heard it can take a week and in the UK it can be as quick as a day,’ he said.

‘It needs to be quicker, if a chef walks out in June and you have to wait for the application to go through, that means it can sometimes not be until August before you get someone new in and by then the busy summer period is almost over.

‘Anything that does relax the regulations, though, is an improvement, but there is still more that needs to be done.’

A review of work permits was undertaken by the Guernsey Border Agency, Immigration and Nationality at the request of the Home Affairs committee.

The changes will now align short-term permits for those from outside the EU with those from countries within it, to whom they were already available.

n A provisional date for Chamber’s hospitality group’s industry recruitment process workshop is Thursday 9 January.