The AXLE -  6 July 2020 

Work Permit Refusals - The Actual Numbers 

On Friday, in his response to parliamentary questions as posted by the Opposition Minister, Sylvan Richards, the new Labour Minister, who is responsible for Immigration, offered these stats confirming the actual numbers of work permit refusals that have been refused since the beginning the beginning of lockdown, April 1 approximately - 12 weeks ago.   The construction industry has not been materially impacted, though cleaner / housekeeper roles have taken a bit of hit.   The categories in red reflect the sectors that our clients would be most interested in and all other categories are listed thereafter.   TCG Limited has received 2 refusals during this same period: 1 Cleaner and 1 Landscape / Hardscape Gardener.        Where we do have several permissions to reside & seek which have been pending over this same time period - taking a lot longer than usual. 

Per Ministerial Statement dated 3 July, 2020 - 

Number of work permits refused in each category: 

Cleaner / 5

Cleaner/Caregiver / 1

Cleaning Supervisor / 1

Housekeeper/Cleaner / 8

Caregiver / 1

Carpenter / 1

Live-Out Child Caregiver / 1

Live-Out Child Caregiver/Housekeeper / 1

Landscape Foreman / 1

Landscape Gardener / 9

Landscape Gardener/Mason / 1

Landscape Hardscape Gardener / 2

Supervisor Landscape Gardner / 1

Mason / 3

Mechanic / 1

Hair Stylist / 4

Hair Stylist/Nail Technician / 1

Spa Therapist / 2

ALL OTHERS 

Administrative Support Team Leader / 1

Assistant Managers / 7

Assistant Restaurant Manager / 1

Assistant Store Manager / 1

Assistant Supermarket Manager / 3

Associate / 1

Baker / 2

Baker/Driver / 1

Bar & Restaurant Manager / 1

Beauty Therapist / 1

Butcher / 1

Chef / 1

Chef de Partie / 19

Chef/Manager / 1

Commi Chef / 1

Dining Room Captain / 1

Domestic Worker / 1

Executive Assistant / 1

Executive Director / 1

Experience Landscape Gardner / 2

Experienced Associate / 1

Experienced Cleaning Technician / 1

Experienced Landscape/Hardscape / 1

Experienced Server / 2

Fire Protection Specialist / 1

Food & Beverage Server / 26

Food & Beverage Waiter / 1

French, Spanish, Head of Foreign Language / 1

General Assistant Dining Room / 1

Group & Local Sales AVP / 1

IT Services Manager / 1

Legal Secretary / 1

Manager / 1

Paralegal / 1

Pastry Chef / 1

Personal Trainer/Yoga / 1

Prep Chef / 1

Qualified Accountant / 1

Restaurant Manager / 2

Retail Operations Manager / 1

Silver Service Food & Beverage Waitperson / 3

Switch Manager / 1

Technology Sales Specialist / 1

Waiter/Waitress / 14

TOTAL / 159

Can we use a worker for whom a wp has been refused? 

Yes, under very strict conditions, for a limited time. 

Employees  which have been refused can continue to work for 90 days after the border opens unless you find and hire a Bermudian for the role.

Put another way, your refused worker can continue to work ultimately until he is repatriated (within 90 days of flight resumption) provided that you IMMEDIATELY undertake recruitment to fill the refused position with a Bermudian. Your refused non Bermudian employee can only continue working through the end of the 90 day post border open period (30 Sep) IF you do not find / hire a Bermudian.    You must show effort that you are now immediately looking for a Bermudian, even if you have decided not to fill the role, if you are to continue using the labour of your refused employee.    As borders officially opened 1 July, 2020, then you will be okay according to this policy until 30 September, 2020.    Where he / she  must leave by 30 September, 2020.