A new work permit process will be formalised and adopted by January 1, should the Progressive Labour Party win the election, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors said yesterday.Work permits will be processed from a new Department, set up along with a Work Permits Board, it was announced at the beginning of the month with the tabling of legislation to support the new departmental arrangements. It will combine the roles of the Department of Labour and Training, the National Training Board and the Work Permits unit.“The PLP had been promising a new work permit application process for several months,” said Mrs Minors, who went on to say it is now very close to completion.The Minister said in developing it, she had had a series of meetings with stakeholders, particularly members of the Bermuda Human Resources Association, and she has also met with chief executive officers to hear directly from them about employment issues.She said: “I accept that there is an intense need for staff who can render their services for both local and international businesses. There will always be a need for work permits, in both the local and international business sector. I see our role as the Ministry responsible to make sure we are providing an environment for Bermudians to be employed, but also business owners that need a certain expertise of service can obtain that through a work permit.”And going forward, the Minister said: “We are open to personal meetings with CEOs and users to get a sense of what our human resources need. It’s all about building relations,” she said.“If companies have structured changes (coming up) and we have an indication of that, or we touch base every quarter we have that discussion, so that when applications come before me, I have the big picture,” she said. “It is an attractive package for local large business, particularly, who will have a more intense need for highly skilled staff we all recognise that and will do our best to accommodate them. Local business have the same challenges as international companies but they are not given as favourable an eye on their needs or interests.”A bill was tabled in the House of Assembly by Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief at the beginning of November to establish the new Department as well as a Work Permits Board to replace the Board of Immigration, which will consist of between five and 13 people appointed by the Minister.The Minister said: “We are doing the final tweaks to the revised work permit policy. As soon as the election is over and as I believe, we retain Government, we can proceed with putting it back out to the legislature.My aim is to have it formalised and adopted by January 1.”Ms Minors said she had hoped to have the new arrangements in operation before the election, however: “I don’t want to rush in and not have it complete.”She said her Ministry is also working to provide the infrastructure for the smooth transition of international businesses starting up in Bermuda. “At the end of the day we recognise the contributions international business makes to our economy.”