Work permit reform proposals are nearing completion but remain caught up in wider immigration policy discussions, the Enterprise Minister has told Keys.
Tim Johnston told MHKs that detailed consideration of changes to immigration rules, including employment processes, job roles, SOC codes, salary levels and the resident labour market test, is “nearing completion”.
However, Mr Johnston could not provide a timeline for when reforms might be implemented, stating the work sits within a broader inward migration stream.
“The wording probably isn’t great, I accept that,” Mr Johnston said of quarterly update reports that suggested reform proposals had already been agreed.
He also confirmed work is continuing on scoping an online portal to “provide a single front door for employers” recruiting non-Manx workers, which he said he is “hopeful will progress to development in coming months”.
When pressed by Julie Edge on whether work permits are cross-checking with visas to ensure skills coming through the visa route could be done by local workers, Mr Johnston said the resident labour market test “has always got to be the first point of call”.
He acknowledged “there are definitely gaps” in labour market data that “need to be improved”.