Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn has revealed that the government received requests for 9,270 work permits for the period August 2020 to May 2022 but has only granted 4,847 of those.
He disclosed the numbers while responding to questions last Thursday raised by Opposition Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley in the National Assembly.
Benn said that 566 companies requested and were eligible for work permits in the period under review. Providing a breakdown of the companies, he submitted that 65 stores, 52 supermarkets, 32 restaurants, 7 security firms, 6 universities/schools, 9 construction companies, 7 embassies, 3 engineering companies, 17 hospitals/pharmacies, 9 churches and 29 trading companies all requested work permits.
