New policies and procedures for the processing of immigration matters in Bermuda were announced by Wayne Caines, the minister of national security
According to a statement issued by Minister Caines at the latest Covid-19 briefing, from June 1, 2020 the Department of Immigration will once again accept all types of applications for processing. Holders of work permits that are due to expire between June 1 and September 1, 2020 will be allowed to continue to work without penalty or the need for an appeal to the Minister, but as a result of the widespread unemployment caused by the pandemic, the Bermuda government will review, reassess and reevaluate the territory’s immigration policies and procedures.
The Government is urging businesses that are in the process of reopening to consider hiring Bermudians on the basis that if a Bermudian can do a job instead of a guest worker, the Bermudian worker should take precedence. The Minister called on Bermudians to be willing to adapt and change if necessary by working in sectors of the economy they may not have previously. Minister Caines stated that certain measures will be adopted, including possibly closing some categories of jobs, and announced that permission to reside and seek employment will be assessed on a case by case basis. Work permit approvals would not be guaranteed and in cases where the opportunity to hire Bermudians existed, work permits would be denied and guest workers may be required to leave the island.
