BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has expressed concern about the growing number of Bangladeshis running retail shops in the country.
Wale brought this issue to the Ministry of Commerce, Labour, Industry and Immigration (MCILI) during their appearance before the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) Inquiry concerning the Mineral Resources Bill 2025.
In response, MCILI said in regards to reference to retail shops, many are now associated with marriage.
“This raises the issue of the local employer, whose spouse is applying on their behalf for a work permit and residence permit.
“Before 2020, we had retailers operating. Following the inspection that year, it was restricted. Consequently, retail shops are now designated for Solomon Islanders, but this does not affect those that were approved before 2020.
“The situation post-2020 is that there are numerous marriage declarations, and as a result, anyone applying through this process is no longer considered a foreigner but rather a local employer seeking to hire someone,” MCILI informed BLC.
MCILI informed the BLC that a majority of the Bangladeshi individuals operating retail shops are obtaining work permits and residence permits through marriage.
The ministry also informed the BLC that their strategy to manage the influx involves raising their fees, a move Wale opposes.
He stressed that a comprehensive cleanup would more essential.
“This situation requires a thorough cleanup. This problem has persisted for the past 30 years, and it should not be viewed merely as a revenue-sharing or revenue-generating initiative. We must address it—we need to clean up. Numerous sectors have become oversaturated, and many of our indigenous communities have been excluded.
“You are performing admirably, but the proposal to increase fees should be disregarded. What is wrong must be acknowledged, appropriate measures should be taken,” said Wale.
Reassuring the Opposition leader, MCILI said that additional compliance checks are necessary.
“We have a combined inspection team within the ministry, known as the BMC, Business Joint Monitoring Agency. We conduct a collective inspection. Although it was planned for this year, we can, given the various issues arising in the ministry, coordinate everyone to perform a joint inspection,” said MCILI.
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