The Chamber of Commerce?s retail sector has called on Government to review the cancellation of seasonal retail work permit applications.

This follows an announcement by Government in March that retail sales work permit applications would be turned down for jobs that could be filled from a pool of more than 200 staff set to lose their jobs when retailer Trimingham Brothers Ltd. closes its doors on July 27.

However, at the retail division?s annual general meeting last week, Front Street business owners voiced their concern at the possibility of not having enough staff to fill vacancies for the upcoming season.

Because Trimingham?s staff will be compensated for up to three months once they leave and members felt many would not want to return to work until the autumn.

This left businesses in a dire position as the upcoming summer months are typically the busiest of the year and many stores employ additional staff in order to cope.

Somers Cooper, who was elected co-chair of the retail division last week with Kristi Grayston, suggested that Government work with the retail sector to ensure this did not happen.

?Government has set up a help desk for Trimingham?s staff. We?d like to know how many have said they wanted to remain in the retail industry and how many would enter the job market straight away,? he said.

Mr. Cooper said he planned to meet with Labour Minister Randy Horton shortly to address his concerns.

Retail sales positions fall into a category closed to expatriate workers except during summer.