Proposed reforms to the island’s work permit system will go before Tynwald this month.

The changes aim at simplifying the system and reducing bureaucracy in the wake of a growing skills shortage.

It will mean a decision can be made on the great majority of applications within one working day of receipt, provided the employer has attempted to find a suitable Isle of Man worker first.

But the Department of Economic Development - due to be rebranded the Department for Enterprise next month - has held back, for the time being at least, from more radical reform.

A DED consultation over the summer had included the idea of "flipping" the current system.

This would have meant that rather than everyone not an Isle of Man worker requiring a permit, unless the employment is exempt, there would be no requirement for permits other than for a small number of designated jobs.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly insisted there was no move to abolish work permits but there was a compelling case for reform.

He said there had been more than 150 responses to the consultation with the large majority supporting the department’s proposals.

Responses were received from individuals, trade bodies, political organisations, trade unions and private and public sector employers from a wide range of sectors.

But there was less support - 60% or so - to the idea of "flipping".

’That’s a fairly radical proposal to say the least,’ admitted Mr Skelly.

’But it could go back on the agenda. Arguments about the work permit system are always emotive and people’s views are polarised.

’We are committed to retaining the work permit system. This is about reforms that will simplify the process and reduce bureaucracy. I think of it as a tap you can turn on and off. If circumstances change and we need to tighten it, we have the ability to do that.’

There are seven proposed reforms, to be presented to Tynwald for approval.

They include a simplified employer-only application form, a simplified list of matters to be taken into consideration by the DED and simplified fees to encourage multi-year permits.

There will be an automatic one-year permit for cohabiting partners of Isle of Man workers, work permit holders and exempt individuals, upon application.

A register of exempt persons will be introduced and the requirement for visa holders with permission to enter the island under tiers 1, 4 and 5 of the points-based system to obtain an additional work permit will be removed.

Subject to Tynwald approval, the implementation date for some of the proposals will be November 1 with the others following in January.

Mr Skelly said: ’As part of the reforms we will be looking to get the message out to employers that work permits should not be an obstacle where there are no Isle of Man workers available.’

He accepted there are no estimates on how many extra workers could secure jobs here as a result of the reforms and reported issues with the current system were often anecdotal.

But he said creation of a register of exempt individuals would enable decisions to be made based on the analysis of data.