KINGSTON, Jamaica- Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr has confirmed that a group of Chinese mechanics who were operating the recently shuttered auto repair shop, Whole Hearted Company Services Limited in Ferry Pen, St Andrew, were operating without the requisite work permits.

He added, however, that while others at the facility had work permits, he could not say if they were “aligned to the business that was being carried out”.

“In terms of the findings, I can confirm that our work permit unit, in addition to the unit that relates to occupational safety and health, did attend on the facility; observed; they interviewed; and they investigated. They attended multiple times, as a matter of fact, and we were able to confirm that there were issues in relation to the work permits or lack thereof for some individuals, in our estimation were part of the work team at that facility. We can also confirm, and we have confirmed, that there were some individuals who did have active, valid permits; however, whether those work permits aligned with the activity that was being carried out at that facility is another issue,” Charles Jr said, while speaking at a Ministry of Labour and Social Security post-sectoral briefing on Wednesday.

Charles Jr stressed that the ministry’s aim is not to stop commerce, but it is the responsibility of the ministry to ensure foreign nationals who enter the country for work do so legally.

“While we continue to work across ministries, our primary goal is full adherence to the law. That is why you would have noticed that activities have ceased. Yes, our team did advise the persons who identified themselves as being in a leadership or management position that activity of this nature without the requisite work permit approved is a breach of the law that could carry particular types of sanctions, and we noticed that after providing that information, certain action was taken by the individuals to close down their facility,” he stated.

“We have made it clear that, particularly where we see hundreds of Jamaicans flocking to the service, we are not blind or deaf to the fact that there is clearly this gap in terms of what is being provided to the country. We have no difficulty in entertaining the regularisation of these individuals so they can continue their operation once they have complied with legal requirements and addressed whatever sanctions, if any, that arise from our passage of the information we receive from the JCF [Jamaica Constabulary Force], and once they are in full adherence to laws of Jamaica.”

Charles Jr said the auto repair shop will be allowed to reopen once they have met the necessary work permit requirements.

READ: Ministry of Labour investigating Chinese-operated Whole Hearted Company Services Ltd

READ: Motorists take auto problems to Chinese mechanics