Kingston, Jamaica — The Ministry of Labor and Social Security is in the final stages of resolving the work permit status of several Chinese mechanics employed at WH Car Service, following the shop’s abrupt closure earlier this year due to immigration and labor breaches.
Labor Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. confirmed at a recent press briefing that efforts are underway to regularize the workers’ status and facilitate the prompt reopening of the popular auto repair facility, located in Ferry Pen, near the St. Andrew-St. Catherine border.
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“We are facilitating as best as we can. Once the law is adhered to, we are continuing to do everything we can to ensure that they can reopen as quickly as possible,” said Charles, noting that the operator has formally applied to rectify the legal status of the affected workers.
WH Car Service had gained significant popularity among Jamaican motorists for offering reliable and competitively priced repairs—services many customers claimed surpassed local alternatives. The shop’s forced closure triggered public concern and calls for government intervention.
“I’ve received letters; I’ve received calls from several persons who have indicated that the gap in that space in terms of the labor market is persuading them to encourage the Government to help these companies,” Charles said, pointing to the shop’s affordability and dependability.
The situation exposed broader challenges in Jamaica’s work permit system, which Charles insisted is being addressed. He clarified that the incident does not reflect systemic failure but rather an example of enforcement in action. “This is a scenario where we are actually seeing the effectiveness of a system responding,” he argued.
The resolution process is inter-ministerial, involving the Ministry of National Security and immigration authorities to determine appropriate sanctions and facilitate permit adjustments. At the same time, the Ministry is accelerating reforms to modernize the permit process.
Charles revealed that a digitized work permit application system is nearing completion. “We’re now at the stage of doing user-acceptance testing… and bringing in stakeholders to test, to confront it, to challenge it,” he said.
In the interim, efforts are already being made to fast-track existing applications. “Any permit [application] that is [pending for] more than eight weeks is placed on a specialized list, and it is expedited,” he explained.
The government’s response reflects an attempt to balance regulatory compliance with the growing demand for specialized services and to ensure that foreign nationals operate within the legal framework while contributing to the local economy.
