United Progressive Party Leader Jamale Pringle has announced that a UPP government would overhaul Antigua and Barbuda's work permit system, allowing foreign workers to change employers within their industry without reapplying each time.
According to Antigua News Room, Pringle made the pledge while addressing a rally in All Saints, arguing that the current employer-specific permit model imposes unnecessary costs and restrictions on workers who contribute to the national economy.
"The UPP will grant work permits on an industrial basis or professional basis, instead of being employer specific," Pringle said.
Under the proposed framework, a permit would be tied to a worker's profession or industry rather than to a single employer. Pringle said the change would eliminate the need for new documentation each time a worker seeks a different position within the same sector.
"This will enable the permit holder to seek new employment without requiring new documentation and having to spend money over and over again," he added.
In practical terms, the reform would mean that a construction worker or hospitality employee could move between jobs within their respective sectors without obtaining a new permit for each position.
Pringle framed the proposal as a matter of fairness, acknowledging the role foreign workers play in the country's development.
"We understand that persons would have moved from their country of birth to live within Antigua and Barbuda, and they help to build our economy," he said.
The UPP leader indicated that the work permit reform would form part of a wider initiative to modernise labour and business systems across the twin-island nation.
Antigua and Barbuda's general election is scheduled for April 30.
