n on the panel: Left to right, director of Housing Control Esther Ingrouille, head of Immigration & Nationality Phil Taylor and CIPD chairwoman Gillian Gorvel. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0595389)

EMPLOYERS have been reminded of the island’s strict housing and work laws. Senior States staff addressed a seminar organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

If a business is unable to recruit skilled staff locally, it needs to obtain housing licences and, in some cases, work permits for new staff.

From January, Housing Control will be introducing a processing fee for essential licences. The £100 per licence per year will apply only to people coming in under employment-related licences or documents.

It is also looking to change the documentation from paper to a credit card style, similar to that issued by Social Security. ‘That way there is less chance of it going through the washing machine or being eaten by the dog,’ said Esther Ingrouille, director of Housing Control.