Work permit laws are now being rigorously enforced after years of neglect, according to Trade and Industry Minister David Cretney.

He was giving evidence to a Tynwald Select Committee about immigration today, when he said he had found the system in disarray.

Under questioning from the four-strong committee, he said the system had been under-resourced and officers hadn’t been supported.

But since he had taken over the DTI, he had managed to turn the situation around and now the legislation was being properly upheld.

Jason Roberts reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Mr Cretney (pictured) told the committee a review of work permits regulations and legislation was underway within the DTI, and he was waiting to see what the select committee would recommend.

But he said he supported a ten-year stay in the Island before becoming a Manx resident as opposed to the current five years.

When pressed, he said he couldn’t give a final date when the review would be finished as it might require new legislation which would have to be passed by Tynwald, but work permits were at the top of his department’s priorities.