Labor Minister speaks out on work permits

PHILIPSBURG—The Minister of Labor Emile Lee has refuted the allegations that to acquire work permits is difficult. He stated that the documentation and the acquisition process of obtaining work permits are set out in legislation.

“Once the documentation for the permits are submitted it takes about three to four weeks from that time to be approved,” said the Minister of Labor at the Council of Ministers Press Conference on Wednesday. “I don’t see that government is holding up anything from a work permit process,” he said.

He explained that most of the permits that the companies have submitted have been approved unless there are major issues with regards to the application since government recognizes the need for the reconstruction. He pointed out that once the documentation is properly submitted there are possibilities that they will be approved.

He is encouraging companies to come and to seek further advice from his employees at the Ministry of Labor if confronted with problems.

He concluded that the recovery process must be able to rebuild the economy as well as the reconstruction of the physical structure.