Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

BVI works toward reducing fraudulent work permits
10-12-2006

ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Department of Labour in the British Virgin Islands is working towards reducing problems of duplication and other fraudulent efforts by people in the territory to have fake work permits.

Labour Minister Eileene Parsons has made public the Labour Department’s new holographic photo identification work permit card.

The new card is designed with added security features to verify the authenticity of the work permit card and make duplication of the card difficult.

At a press conference, Parsons expressed great satisfaction with the efforts by the Labour Department to ensure the BVI is protected against persons illegally entering the Territory on fraudulent work permits.

“This work permit card will hopefully curb the numerous forgeries we have found with the work permit system,” she said.

Parsons said 'this new holographic system will provide a durable full coloured professional work permit identification card to permit holders.”

Currently, 3x5 paper work permit cards with the holders photograph stapled to the card are used. These cards have proven to be vulnerable to fraudulent activity.

Labour Commissioner Myrna Ferdinand said the department is confident that the new holographic system will diminish the possibility of duplication.

“Since we have tested the system we know that the upgrade in the ID card is a great improvement and it will decrease the likelihood of forgery”, she said.

The new holographic cards bear an electronic signature of the Labour Commissioner and the card holder, along with a coloured photograph and a watermark of the card holder. Additionally, all of the holder’s applicable information such as name, work permit number, employer’s name, date of issue, expiration date, permit type, occupation, conditions of issue, date of birth and social security number are listed on the card.

Each card bears a holographic design distinct to the BVI that is not easily duplicated. Cards will also bear hidden text which will be used by the appropriate authorities to verify the card’s authenticity.

Work permit holders will be issued these new cards starting January 3, 2007. A card fee will be announced in advance of the start date. New cards will only be issued to full time and part time workers holding permanent work
permits. Permit holders issued temporary permits for six months and under will be required to submit the usual two photographs for paper permits.

The Labour Department contracted Advanced Business Systems (ABS) of Barbados to install and train staff to operate the software and printer for the identification card system. The company has successfully installed similar
data card systems in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Philippines and Switzerland. The total cost of the system is $31,380.

Two printers have been installed in the Territory, one at the main office in Road Town and the other at the department’s Virgin Gorda office.

Holographic cards are used for photo identification, security cards, access keys, bank and credit cards, and licenses. This is the first time the technology is used for work permit cards in the region.