MINISTER of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, says that the government is looking at increasing the penalties for breaches of the work permit law.

Charles told Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing at Jamaica House that following his recent decision to give foreigners working here without permits 10 days to regularise their situations, the cabinet had decided on an extension of another 10 working days.

Cabinet also agreed, he said, to increase the current penalty for breaches of the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens Employment Act from $200 or six months’ imprisonment to $500,000 or six months in jail. The amendment is currently being drafted by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.

He said that he was not satisfied with the response the ministry received to his first 10-day deadline.

“This minister is not satisfied that enough of the people involved have responded. We have received more telephone calls from people advising us where foreigners are working, than from foreigners who want to stay here and work,” he said.

He said that the Cabinet had decided on a 10-day extension for employers to come to the ministry and seek to have the matter sorted out, with the understanding that the government is determined to bring the situation in line.