The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved new measures to strengthen the work permit process and ensure that job vacancies are first made available to Antiguans and Barbudans before foreign workers are considered for hire.
According to Antigua News Room, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced the changes at Thursday's post-Cabinet media briefing, following a presentation by the Labour Commissioner and officials from the One Stop Employment Centre (OSEC).
Cabinet expressed concern that job vacancies may not always be reaching the widest possible audience. Under the new framework, employers seeking work permits will be required to demonstrate that positions were advertised across multiple platforms — including traditional media, online news outlets, digital channels and the One Stop Employment Centre — before applications are considered.
Cabinet also directed labour officials to make greater use of state media and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to publicise available jobs and broaden outreach to local job seekers.
Merchant said the changes come amid concerns from Cabinet members about repeated requests to import workers for positions they believe could be filled locally. "Cabinet feels that there is something drastically wrong with that process because they believe that locals can assume those positions," he said. He specifically questioned why work permit applications were being submitted for roles such as nannies and cooks.
The government is also moving to tighten rules on where applications originate. Merchant indicated that future policy will require applicants to apply from their country of residence before travelling to Antigua and Barbuda for employment. "Once the position cannot be filled here in Antigua and Barbuda, then the work permits will be granted," he said.
Cabinet was further advised that additional scrutiny is being applied to certain categories of applications, including those for domestic workers, to ensure employers can justify the need and demonstrate the financial capacity to meet their obligations.
Officials say the reforms are intended to strengthen labour market protections and guarantee that qualified Antiguans and Barbudans have the first opportunity to fill available positions.
