Cabinet has announced plans to strengthen the work permit application process and expand public access to job opportunities, following a detailed review of employment trends and labour market conditions in Antigua and Barbuda. According to Antigua.news, the decision followed a comprehensive presentation to Cabinet by the Labour Commissioner and the Manager of the One Stop Employment Centre (OSEC).
The presentation outlined the current state of employment, workforce needs, and the administration of work permits. The One Stop Employment Centre, which maintains a database of thousands of registered job seekers, continues to play a central role in connecting applicants with vacancies across both the public and private sectors.
Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that nationals are given every reasonable opportunity to secure employment before work permits are granted to foreign workers. While employers are already required to advertise vacancies and demonstrate local recruitment efforts prior to applying for work permits, Cabinet expressed concern that some opportunities may not be reaching a sufficiently broad audience.
To address this, Cabinet agreed that stronger measures will be introduced to improve transparency and public access to vacancies linked to work permit applications. Employers will now be required to provide evidence that positions have been advertised through recognised media outlets, including print, digital, and other approved platforms, in addition to the existing recruitment process managed by OSEC.
Cabinet also encouraged OSEC to expand its outreach through social media, digital platforms, WhatsApp channels, and other modern communication tools to make employment opportunities more accessible to job seekers across the country.
The discussions highlighted the need for closer collaboration between OSEC and government employment and skills training programmes, with the aim of ensuring participants are informed of available private sector opportunities.
While Cabinet acknowledged that some industries continue to face shortages of specialised skills, it stressed that employers must demonstrate genuine attempts to recruit qualified Antiguans and Barbudans before seeking approval to hire foreign nationals.
Officials also reported that additional scrutiny is being applied to certain categories of work permit applications, including those for domestic workers, to ensure requests are justified and that employers have the financial capacity to meet their obligations.
Cabinet stated that the work permit system must strike a balance between supporting economic growth and protecting employment opportunities for citizens, reaffirming its commitment to reducing unemployment, increasing workforce participation, and maintaining a fair, transparent, and equitable labour market.
