Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation Chief Executive Officer Edward Bernard says the suspension of certain requirements for work permit applications will definitely and immediately generate more confidence with employers and potential investors.
The suspended work permit application information, effective from 1st September to 31st December this year, includes advertisement of position, training plan, local understudy requirement and application received analysis.
While welcoming the decision, Bernard says with major supply side challenges faced by our labour market, this will allow faster recruitment of skilled workers, allowing business operations and productivity to continue.
He says in May this year, FCEF’s National Skills Gap Assessment Survey was launched by the Prime Minister and identified 95 positions that the private sector is finding difficulty in filling locally.
The CEO says this survey has supported the evidence needed for FCEF’s advocacy and lobbying in addressing the supply side challenges in the labour market, including work permits.
He says they are grateful to the Minister and Permanent Secretary for Immigration for their foresight and understanding the employment, productivity and economic growth challenges faced by the private sector.
He confirms a Joint Immigration-FCEF Working Committee has also been established to brainstorm and recommend to the Minister a new work permit approval system.
Bernard says this is an excellent example of Government and private sector working together to co-design systems that will ultimately work for both parties and ultimately contribute to employment, productivity and economic growth.
