Proposals for liberalising the work permit regime that are said to be under consideration by Government are a step in the right direction.But they do not address the primary problem Bermuda has in attracting new business to the Island, namely the term limits policy.Until that is tackled, all other proposals are simply nibbling at the edges of the issue.It is also important to note that changing the work permit policy is not the sole means of bringing about economic recovery for Bermuda. And care must be taken to ensure that the employment interests of Bermudians remain central to any policy. Nonetheless, this has to be balanced against the need for companies to compete internationally and to be sustainable.One of the proposals supposedly put forward, namely to allow new companies to have five work permits at the outset, is a sensible proposal, although there should be a training component for Bermudians as a condition of this. In other words, the company needs to make a comment to hiring and training Bermudians as a quid pro quo for the work permits.The idea that internal promotions should not require a new work permit application is a radical one, as it turns on its head the idea that qualified Bermudians should be considered for positions. But it is also true that one of the deterrents for hiring staff from overseas is that they find opportunities for advancement blocked even when they are the superior candidate once they are in Bermuda. This can be damaging to the individual and to the employer. So this is a complex area where a cut and dried policy will be difficult to implement.On the other hand, global work permits seem sensible, and would give flexibility to international companies around the world. If lateral moves to Bermuda lead to more jobs staying in Bermuda, then this seems to be a sensible policy.Still, it is ironic that while these liberalisations to the work permit policy, none move away from the general policy behind term limits that a non-Bermudian can only remain on the Island for six years. While there are now dozens of exceptions to this rule, the rule still exists, and remains the biggest single deterrent to business growth in terms of Immigration.Change that rule, and the need to tweak other areas of work permit policy goes away, while leaving the general principles of the policy in place.In fact, these revisions tend to look at the problem through the wrong end of the telescope.Immigration policy should be framed around the following principles:l Bermudian employment rights must be protected, but not at the expense of the overall well-being of the economy;l The economy needs a certain number of people in the Island to grow and thrive;l A growing economy means more jobs and rising incomes for all;l The proportion of working age Bermudians is shrinking and will shrink further in the future; andl Bermuda competes in an economy where intellectual capital is critical and where open labour policies help economies to grow.Any revisions of the Immigration regime should start from these core principles.