Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

Foreign nationals employed in Jamaica without a work permit have been given an additional 10 working days to comply with the law or face a possible fine of $200 or six months' imprisonment,or both.

Earlier this month, the Government had given overseas employees working illegally in Jamaica 10 days to regularise their status. But, Cabinet on Monday extended the amnesty to allow employers of these expatriate workers to visit or contact the Labour Ministry to satisfy the provisions of the law.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles said he had received some 100 applications for work permits from persons who have been working illegally in the country. He said the ministry was currently processing the applications, but he did not divulge the number that was approved or rejected.

Dissatisfied with response

Mr. Charles told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday that he was dissatisfied with the response his ministry had received from Jamaicans who employed persons from abroad without work permits, in contravention of the law. He said that during the extended amnesty, he expects employers to visit the ministry to regularise the working arrangements of their overseas employees.

He said the Government was moving to amend the law to increase the penalty for breaching the work permit requirements to $500,000 or six months' imprisonment, or both fine and imprisonment. In addition, the Labour Minister said a team from the ministry was now in the field conducting investigations into reports of foreign nationals in the island without work permits.

Mr. Charles said the Government had given investors the assurance that there were suitable persons in Jamaica to fill vacant positions in their companies.

However, he said, "Where we cannot find such workers, we are requesting that you advertise," to allow overseas persons to fill those positions.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com