ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda is undertaking a review and approval of work permit applications amid concerns from nationals that available jobs where they could gain employment are being secured by expatriates, through work permit applications.
“The Minister, who would normally get recommendations from the Ministry of Labour in terms of work permits, needs additional assistance because of the focus that the Cabinet is placing on providing opportunities for local individuals, in particular sectors where Antiguans and Barbudans can fill these positions, it needs additional eyes,” the Director General of Communications, Maurice Merchant, told reporters following the weekly Cabinet meeting.
He said Cabinet ministers are uniquely positioned to identify areas where local workers can meet labour demands and where foreign labour may not be necessary.
“The Cabinet has decided that it will play a greater role in all aspects of the nation’s economy because it comprises ministers responsible for various sectors.
“They will have greater insight as to where locals can make contributions and can fill positions.” The new approach is aimed at preventing situations where foreign nationals are granted work permits for roles that citizens or residents could otherwise fill,” Merchant told reporters.
The statement issued following the Cabinet meeting noted that the government took decisive action to expand local participation in the “nation’s thriving economy during a period of sustained growth and forward-looking development”.
It said that over the past 11 years, Antigua and Barbuda has transitioned from “a fragile post-crisis economy to one of the region’s most resilient and dynamic.”
It said that recent estimates show robust gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2025 and a projected expansion of around 5 per cent in 2026, positioning Antigua and Barbuda’s economy close to a seven-billion-dollar output for the first time in history.
The Cabinet statement added that recognising the importance of ensuring that local Antiguans and Barbudans have meaningful access to opportunities in the entertainment, leisure, and broader travel economy, “agreed on a suite of policy measures designed to transform enclave industries into inclusive engines of prosperity for the nation’s citizens.
“Responding to public concerns over foreign labour participation, the Cabinet also agreed to centralise and strengthen the oversight of work permit approvals. In the future, the Minister responsible will be assisted directly by Cabinet in the review and approval of work permits to ensure that jobs created by economic expansion prioritise qualified national workers.”
The statement said that “these measures reflect a clear national agenda: ensuring that the unprecedented growth experienced over the past decade translates into broad-based opportunity and prosperity for local people, while preserving the competitive edge of Antigua and Barbuda in the global tourism and leisure economy”.
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