HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC -The Bermuda government is proposing new guidelines for permanent residency certificates (PRC) in the British Overseas Territory,
Economy and Labour Minister Jason Hayward said a government paper on the issue has already been published online, and members of the public can provide feedback until April 15.
“Many high-income countries around the world are facing the same problem. But in a small country like Bermuda, it can have a severe impact on our economic performance and the cost of living for ordinary working people,” he told Parliament. He said action is needed to address the demographic challenges of a falling birth rate and aging populations.
“For this reason, my Ministry has prepared the position paper I am presenting to the House today to address these challenges and propose solutions.
“Significantly, I am inviting consultation on the proposals in the position paper in the hope of harnessing the best ideas from the community and seeking feedback on proposals to retain Bermuda’s local workforce for the long-term benefit of our country.”
Under the proposals, ordinary residents living in the country for more than ten years and with an annual income of US$83,000 would be eligible, halving the minimum time period.
Non-Bermudian parents of Bermudian children would also be able to apply for PRC status after ten years of ordinary residents, down from 15 years, and PRC eligibility requirements for job creators would be reduced from ten years to five.
PRC eligibility requirements would also be reduced to five years for those working in certain professions, including registered nurses, chartered financial analysts, certified actuaries, computer engineers, software developers, and certified accountants.
Hayward said that while Bermuda needed to consider both Bermudians and guest workers, the proposals in the position paper do not include a pathway to Bermudian status.
“As a government, we want to see more and better opportunities for Bermudians. The chance to earn a living wage doing meaningful work. The opportunity to enter the most sought-after industries, create new ones, and be entrepreneurs and socially conscious contributors to our economy and society.
“We want Bermudian workers to have a real chance to thrive. And for guest workers, we want to give stability and certainty, in addition to fairness and a chance to feel at home in the place where many are raising families and contributing to our community economically and socially.”
Hayward said that to retain Bermudians, the David Burt administration hopes to encourage working-age Bermudians to remain on the island, strengthen labor protections, ensure Bermudians studying abroad return to Bermuda and promote the retention of older Bermudians in the workplace.
“The government is conscious of the growing assertions that Bermudians are emigrating overseas in search of better job opportunities and a lower cost of living,” he said.
Hayward said an independent survey conducted last December by Global Research found that 21 percent of persons had household members who had left Bermuda to live abroad for at least 12 months in the last five years, and 15 percent stated they had household members who had left Bermuda to live abroad for non-educational reasons.
“To gain a full understanding of whether such emigration is happening and why, the Ministry of Economy and Labour will commission research and, based on the results, will develop policies to reduce the drivers of forced migration and encourage Bermudians to return and remain in Bermuda.”
Hayward said the position paper proposed adding equal work for equal pay provisions, increasing maximum severance pay, and continuing revisions to the closed and restricted jobs category.
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