System 'indefensible' amid staffing crisis
The President of the Island's Chamber of Commerce has described the continuing use of the work permit system in the face of a falling Manx population, as 'indefensible'.
Mickey Swindale's comments followed a government presentation to Chamber members (13 June), in which the population decline, exposed in the recent Census, was outlined.
The latest unemployment figures show the number of vacancies across a range of sectors, far outweighs those looking for work.
Also discussed at the Palace Hotel briefing, was a strategy to reverse the population decline - a white paper is to be presented to Tynwald in October.
Ms Swindale had suggested before the Census results were released, that action was needed to encourage growth in population:
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