The Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development of the Government of the Virgin Islands has officially retracted a bulletin issued yesterday November 11, regarding the status of Indefinite Work Permit Exemptions.
The original notice had raised significant public concern and confusion about the validity of these exemptions.
In a retraction statement released earlier today, the Ministry acknowledged the distress caused by the earlier communication and offered a formal apology to the public.
“The Ministry acknowledges that the information contained in the earlier notice caused public concern and confusion. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or distress this may have caused,” the statement read.
The Ministry also assured that further clarification will be provided in due course and thanked the public for their patience and understanding.
The original government bulletin announced the official end of Indefinite Work Permit Exemptions, stating that these long-standing provisions allowing certain residents to work in the Virgin Islands without renewal are no longer valid.
Individuals previously granted indefinite exemptions under the categories of Marriage or Minister’s Discretion were instructed to submit renewal applications, while those under the Education category must now apply for a standard work permit. The Ministry emphasized that work permit exemptions are a privilege, not a status, and encouraged eligible residents to apply for residence status instead.
