Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has warned that the government’s approach to legislation and economic policy is placing an unsustainable financial burden on employers in the Virgin Islands.
Walwyn said the current environment has made it harder for businesses to survive, and that the government appears to be implementing policies without fully considering their impact on the private sector.
He criticised a new policy requiring employers to pay for new work permits upfront, arguing it adds financial strain on already struggling businesses. “I want to understand why. Businesses are already having a difficult time even staying afloat. Why would you put that additional burden of paying for new work permits on employers?” he asked.
He explained that employers are forced to take a risk on unknown workers, some of whom turn out to be unqualified.
Walwyn also questioned the practicality of Labour Department procedures that require employers to submit the passport of a prospective worker who is not yet on the island. “How do they get the passport? Where do they get it from? The person is not on the island; they cannot be on the island while the permit is being processed,” he argued.
He said the current process creates unnecessary hardship and lacks consideration for real-world challenges. “We are not thinking, we have to be more practical and understand,” Walwyn stated.
He raised concerns that government decisions are increasingly shifting financial responsibilities onto employers without proper consultation or assessment. According to Walwyn, this trend is making it difficult for businesses to stay afloat.
“Go back and change that thing, let people pay for their own permit,” he urged. “Let them pay for their own permit and stop putting all these burdens on top of the employers who are already having a difficult time.”
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