Temporary work permit applications for vendors operating within the Festival Grounds for the Emancipation Festival will be processed within a 2 to 3-day period.
This is according to the Minister for Labour Honourable Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull who made the disclosure during a recent interview with 284News.
The minister sought to encourage those employers with temporary employees who will require a new work permit to commence the process as soon as possible.
He said, “We’re just asking persons to comply. The process because the festival starts early next week I believe, what we’re asking persons to do is to get in early with their applications so we can have them processed within a 2 to 3-day period. Anything that needs to be done additionally in terms of getting the paperwork done, we have persons in the Labour Department that will be facilitating specific to those requests for festival.”
Inspections to be conducted
Minister Turnbull also said that inspectors from the Department of Labour and Workforce Development will be conducting inspections on the booths, to ensure all vendors are in compliance with the laws.
“The inspectors from the departments will be just going out to do checks and ensure that persons are in compliance with the laws,” he stated.
“I don’t want it to be viewed as one that is deterring persons from earning a living or hampering the festival spirit. It is just one that we keep in compliance with the law as we go through and continue to grow in this territory. That is the purpose for the statement. If you go back in years it is something that has been done and complied with, with the business owners and the food operators within the territory,” the minister explained.
Who will need work permits?
Turnbull also addressed the category of persons who will require temporary work permits during the festival period.
He said, “If they are under the same employee in the booth, the question is then determined based on the type of work that is being done. So if you are under a food service work permit under the same employer, then you wouldn’t have to apply for a new work permit. This is specific to those persons who are employed otherwise. So you might want to help me out Kamal as a news reporter in my booth or bar, then you will be required to just get the temporary permit for that time period.”
The 2022 Emancipation Festival is set to commence on Wednesday, July 27.