KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government says it is continuing work under the Public Sector Modernisation Project to improve Jamaica’s work permit framework.

According to Labour and Social Security Minister, Shahine Robinson, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, will fund activities aimed at strengthening the system.

Robinson was speaking at a quarterly media briefing at the Ministry’s offices in downtown Kingston yesterday.

Robinson, who described the work permit application process as “rigorous”, said improvements being pursued include the roll-out a new client-focused web-based system to be linked to the Labour Market Information System (LMIS).

The LMIS is a national job matching facility, comprising a database of qualitative and quantitative information on persons seeking employment and entity’s recruiting personnel.

“It is envisioned that this system will provide a local skills bank through the importation of skilled workers” she said.

This, the minister added, will result in more stringent measures for approvals and shortening of the application processing timeline, while assisting in simplifying the process of doing business in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Robinson announced that work permit fees will be standardised across all sectors, effective April 1.

She said that the differential costs will be eliminated, adding that fees, which were last increased in 2014, will go up by 15 per cent.