The States say industry feedback will help shape future population management, after a hospitality couple said the system is "damaging businesses".
Mike and Delphine Pesrin, who run 2Frenchies amongst other ventures, recently contacted members of the Home Affairs Committee to raise concerns about Population Management.
The couple said delays of up to 17 months for Long Term Employment Permits are leaving places short-staffed and unable to operate normally.
They warn, "This is not an administrative inconvenience, it is actively damaging businesses, trapping workers in limbo, and holding back Guernsey’s economy."
With no reply from the States, they forwarded their concerns to the media.
Island FM received this response from Deputy Marc Leadbeater:
"The Committee has a lot of sympathy for industry who are experiencing issues with the population management regime, and is reassured that the Population Management Office is working hard to reduce the current backlog of applications.
"We are also currently beginning work to look at some elements of the regime itself, and industry feedback such as this will have a role to play in that work.
"While we are keen to ensure the population management regime and employment permits work for employers on Guernsey - to give businesses access to the staff they need - it is important to stress that it must balance with the demands of protecting our borders and our place in the common travel area.
"This is not an easy line to walk, with many competing demands, and as such, there will always be some areas which do not work in the way some parts of the community wishes.
"I would like to reassure Delphine that the concerns in her letter have been heard by the Committee and will be considered as we look at this going forward."
The average and maximum processing times for Long Term Employment Permits and AIPs, the extent of the backlog, and measures being taken to address it were not disclosed, despite the Pesrins asking for this information.
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