by Linda Straker
- Government earned over EC$2 million through 890 work permits in 2024
- New format for processing working permits in 2025
- Department conducting process with Caricom because of free movement initiative
Labour Commissioner Sparkle Grenade Courtney has disclosed that the Labour Department earned over EC$2 million in 2024.
“At the Department of Labour we administer the work permit programme and for this year we processed so far 890 work permits in varying sectors…such as construction, tourism and hospitality, the yachting sector, professional services, at a value of over EC$2 million,” Grenade-Courtney said in an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) as she spoke about the work of her department for 2024.
“This is a revenue activity for the Government of Grenada,” she said, explaining that in 2024 focus was also on the legislative processes and procedures that govern the work permit process intending to improve and streamline in 2025.
The Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure for 2024 shows that in the year 2023, Government earned EC$1,879,387 through work permits and projected that it will earn EC$2,027,022 in 2024 and EC$2,151,065 in 2025.
She said in 2025 the department is looking to digitalise the work permit process to ensure the process is quicker, more accessible and in keeping with the articulated policy position of the Cabinet to digitalise government services.
The Labour Commissioner also disclosed that in December 2024 the Department commenced a series of consultations with key stakeholders to bring them up to date with the proposed changes and amendment to the work permit process.
“We serve the business community, we serve government ministries and departments, we serve the religious community, we serve the promoters, we serve a wide cross of the society and therefore to improve the process we need to hear from our stakeholders and we started a series of consultation with them bringing to them the process changes and amends to the Act and the process and seeking their feedback,” she said.
“We have already started to receive significant and important feedback that will inform a new and improved work permit process in 2025,” she said while explaining that the Department is conducting this process together with Caricom because of the free movement initiative. “Caricom will be introducing free movement which will also affect the work permit process, this means that some categories of persons in Caricom will no longer be required to have work permits to seek employment in Grenada.”
U should check all the peoples don’t have!!!
Government earned over EC$2 million through 890 work permits in 2024 but how much could the community earn without forcing aliens to pay for work permits? It takes time and effort to initiate any business plus training and payment of employees who then benefit from having a job. I won’t start any business here for that reason
I understand your concerns, but work permits play an important role in ensuring fairness and accountability in the job market. They help protect local workers by prioritizing their employment opportunities and making sure businesses contribute to the country’s economy.
While starting a business does take effort, the work permit fees are a small price to pay for the benefits entrepreneurs gain from operating in our country—access to resources, infrastructure, and a skilled workforce. The revenue generated from work permits supports essential public services, which benefits everyone in the long run.
Rather than avoiding business opportunities here, I believe entrepreneurs should view the work permit system as a partnership with the community. By complying with these policies, businesses help create a balanced economy that works for both locals and foreign investors.