The public should have been consulted on far-reaching changes to work-permit regulations before they were drafted, according to the Opposition.

Vance Campbell, the Shadow Minister of Economy and Labour, spoke out after the Government opened consultation on sweeping changes to work-permit applications last week.

The updates were announced by Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, at a press conference on Friday.

Mr Hayward said the Government intended to upgrade work-permit regulations.

Additions to the new policy include fresh guidelines for submitting photographs and police certificates, as well as the inclusion of family office permits. Foreign workers seeking employment in Bermuda will also be expected to be fluent in English.

According to Mr Hayward, the amended rules will be available for public feedback until July 4 and are due to come into effect on September 1.

Last night, the One Bermuda Alliance charged that the Government had drawn up the changes without consultation — and was being disrespectful to the public as a result.

Mr Campbell, a former Progressive Labour Party MP, accused the Government of treating the electorate as “an afterthought”.

The MP for Smith’s West said: “The Government should have sought consultation on its updated work-permit policy before it was updated, not after.

“It feels like members of the public are an afterthought.”

Mr Campbell asked: “Will the Government make further changes to the policy based upon that feedback?

“During his press conference, minister Hayward stated there would be balance between employment and immigration in Bermuda. When he refers to balance, what does that look like?

“What data or metrics can the ministry provide so that we can all know when we have reached this proper balance? How many work permits are we away from reaching this proper balance? What is the ratio of jobs held by Bermudians versus non-Bermudians that would equate to this proper balance?”

Mr Campbell added: “Mr Hayward also mentioned that realistic conditions will be in place to enable Bermudians to find work while at the same time ensuring that suitably qualified non-Bermudians in specific categories be permitted to work on the island.

“What are these realistic conditions? How are they achieved or measured? Have the conditions before not been realistic? What made them unrealistic? Without data and other metrics, it appears that these statements are designed to make Bermudians feel good and nothing else.”

He also accused the Government of flip-flopping over work-permit renewal timelines.

“First it was 20 days, now it’s 30 with the caveat that it could be sooner,” he said.

“Why not choose one deadline and stick to it to take the guessing out of the equation? Employers need to be assured that work permits will be consistently processed year-round.”

In reference to duplicate applications, Mr Campbell added: “What changes will be made to ensure that duplications are nullified? How many of the 10,000 work permit-related applications were duplicated? Were the duplicated applications also accompanied by duplicate payments?”

“No matter what changes are made to policy, if little is done to enhance enforcement, the results will not change.

"This government is once again failing to make the necessary changes leading to meaningful immigration reform that will address our challenges with emigration, a shrinking population and an ageing population, both in the short term and for the long term."

The Government has been approached for comment.