§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits to employ overseas workers have been issued and refused for Garners Steak Houses since his Department was informed of a trade dispute at the firm's establishments.
§ Mr. John GrantNone. The work permit scheme includes a condition that no suitable resident labour is available to fill the post offered and that the employer has made adequate efforts to find such a worker; my Department must be positively satisfied that this condition has been met before a work permit is issued or approval of a change of job given. My Department cannot be satisfied that the condition is met when there is a trade dispute involving employees in the occupational grade concerned at390W the establishment of the employer making the application; in these circumstances the labour market is distorted and the true position cannot be assessed. This condition applies not only in the hotel and catering industry but in like circumstances in any industry. It is my Department's practice not to issue work permits for or approve employment in an establishment where industrial action is known to be current.
An overseas worker is not restricted to the job for which the permit was issued either within the orginal period or subsequently, but he is expected to remain in the same kind of employment, and any change of job is subject to the same conditions as a work permit. Approval must be applied for by the new employer and this should be done before the job is taken up. Since 26th January 1978, when industrial action started, two applications for changes of employment to Garners Steak Houses for overseas workers already here on work permits, submitted before the dispute began, have been approved. Three other applications for changes of employment submitted after 26th January have been refused.