Home Affairs helps with staff recruitment issues
HOME Affairs has extended an exemption for nine months on, three months off workers after some Guernsey businesses complained their Covid recovery was hampered by the threat of staff being forced to leave.
The committee’s decision means all employees on a so-called 9/3 or discretionary resident permit can remain in Guernsey without leaving the island for three months after working here for nine, as usually directed by the conditions of the licence.
The exemption, originally introduced in November last year to support businesses and staff during the pandemic, will remain in place until at least the end of September.
Ahead of Brexit, Home Affairs secured agreement from the UK and other Crown Dependencies to enable Guernsey to have its own work permit policy rather than adopting the UK’s points-based immigration system.
Home Affairs president Rob Prow said: ‘Our committee has consistently said that we’ll do everything we can to support businesses and their staff. We fully recognise the importance of maintaining access to the international workforce.
‘I know some in our community believe the Population Management Law has contributed to challenges recruiting staff externally but the truth is the fact our immigration work permit policy and the population management regime tie in together and is what allowed us to have a bespoke work permit system relevant to us and our economy.
‘We hope that the further extension of the exemption helps those businesses that rely on the seasonal working pattern.'
There are currently 125 active 9/3 licence and the committee will consider the position again before they expire.
EasyClean business manager Claire Archer, who earlier highlighted the problems businesses were facing, was pleased with the prompt response.
‘The fact that the deputies listened to our issues and have helped is wonderful, although it doesn’t solve all of our problems, but it does mean those we have working with us now can stay longer.’
Businesses recruiting workers from Europe still had visa issues to contend with.
‘Applying for [them] takes three months to process and comes at a cost. We have applicants from Europe but they are then put off by having to apply for a visa.’
Deputy Prow said, through discussions with the UK, it was accepted that the Bailiwick had unique needs based on the make-up of the economy but the process and costs involved in securing visas for new entrants into the UK and Crown Dependencies were determined by the UK.
‘While the committee took the decision in December to merge the application processes for population management and immigration and waive costs associated with the EU immigration work permit requirement in Guernsey, the cost of the visa is set and retained by the UK and not within the committee’s gift to alter.
‘Guernsey does not receive any money from this and we fully acknowledge it is an additional cost to recruitment for some of our key sectors. We have taken decisions wherever possible to make things easier or waive costs and will continue to explore available options to meet our commitment to support the economy,' he said.
They encouraged any business wanting to retain key members of staff to contact the Population Management Office, which would support by exploring all options.
