The National Security Ministry granted 12,212 work permits to non-Caricom nationals between 2007 and 2008. Of this number, 2,827 work permits were granted to Chinese nationals, the ministry has confirmed.
Minister in the Ministry of National Security Donna Cox gave these figures in reply to an Opposition question in the Lower House yesterday. One question called for answers on the number of non-Caricom workers entering T&T and granted work permits for 2007 and 2008, and the number of Chinese immigrant labourers-workers employed in T&T for 2007 and 2008. Another question called for the nature of the contracts and terms of employment of Chinese workers entering T&T in 2007 and 2008.
Cox said 1,071 work permits were granted to Chinese nationals in 2007 and 1,756 to such nationals in 2008. She also said 5,103 work permits were granted to other non-Caricom workers in 2007 and 7,109 work permits in 2008. The ministry, in a written reply to the other query, stated that its database showed that most of the Chinese workers were employed with construction companies and restaurants. For 2007, approximately 74 per cent of the workers were employed in construction related occupations–carpenters, masons, welders, etc.
In addition, about 11 per cent of Chinese workers were employed in food services occupations–chefs, cooks, etc. For 2008, approximately 82 per cent of the workers were employed in construction-related occupations, while five per cent were employed in food services occupations. The ministry stated that such workers were usually granted a 12-month work permit. The terms and conditions of employment for these workers were between respective employers and workers and do not form ministry records, the ministry stated.