The Isle of Man risks ’sleepwalking to a demographic disaster’, a Treasury department member has warned.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) hit out after failing to get the answers he wanted on work permits from Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly.

He had asked when the minister would take action to relax work permits.

Mr Skelly referred to temporary exemptions already granted to the hospitality sector and the discussions over exemptions in the construction industry, along with proposals to assist co-habiting partners of Isle of Man workers that could come into effect when the Equality Bill becomes law.

But Mr Shimmins said: ’What I am not hearing is action. That is frustrating, because the Census suggests that we have one of the highest dependency ratios in Europe.

’What would the minister say to those concerned we are sleepwalking to a demographic disaster?’

He wanted to know what ’urgent’ action would be taken in the next three months to relax work permits.

Many sectors were suffering ’debilitating’ skills shortages, he said.

Mr Skelly pointed out there was a ’host of different exemptions already in place’, including in the public sector to address teacher shortages and recruitment drives for the Department of Health and Social Care.

Earlier, the minister went into detail about the plan to help the partners of work permit holders.

’We intend to assist cohabiting partners of Isle of Man workers, work permit holders, and persons in exempt employments to work on the island as we recognise the strong feedback from industry that this issue remains a barrier,’ he said.

’The Equality Bill will make a number of changes to work permit legislation, including the provision of powers to confer rights on co-habiting partners of Isle of Man workers.

’Once the bill has obtained Royal Assent and an appointed day order has brought the relevant sections of the new act into operation we intend to bring the necessary secondary legislation to Tynwald.’

He referred back to previously-announced plans for a broader review of the work permit system and said a consultation document could be issued in the next few weeks.

’As I have previously, stated it is not my intention to abolish the work permit system,’ he added.

’My objective is to balance the interests of both Isle of Man workers and employers while ensuring that the system as a whole facilitates growth and employment opportunities and is not a drag on the economy.’