Plan to temporarily scrap Isle of Man work permits put on hold

In the last five years 99.9% of all work permit applications have been approved

A plan to temporarily scrap Isle of Man work permit rules has been put on hold due to "concerns and confusion", the enterprise minister has said.

Tim Johnston had been set to put the proposal to Tynwald later this month and seek backing for a new registration system for off-island workers.

But he said he wanted to "press pause" to address concern about the plan.

Some politicians have raised fears it could remove protections for local workers and strain public services.

The Department for Enterprise (DfE) proposal for a two-year work permit suspension was put forward to make it easier for eligible workers to relocate to the island amid a period of low unemployment and high job vacancies.

Finding skills

Mr Johnston said he would now look to bring the plan back to Tynwald in April after further talks with politicians and industry.

"I am not here to plough things through, I am here to listen," he said.

The enterprise minister said some had "conflated" work permits with issues like broader immigration into the Common Travel Area and the right to live on the Isle of Man.

Currently businesses must demonstrate they have tried to hire a Manx worker before seeking a permit to employ an off-island worker, though many sectors are exempt from this rule.

Under the plans, the DfE would remove that requirement and replace it with a registration system, where information about about all non-Isle of Man workers would be recorded by employers.

Mr Johnston said there was a "perception issue" among some firms about the bureaucracy of applying for work permits, despite 99.9% of all bids being approved over the last five years.

"At a time when it is really challenging to find the skills we need in the economy, it is right we look at how we can make that process easier," he added.

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