Labour Minister Bernard Davis has written the federal Employment minister asking that recent changes made to EI qualifying criteria be reversed.

Davis says the change to qualifying criteria will have a negative impact on a large number of seasonal workers across a range of industries in the province.

The provincial government is asking that a temporary emergency change be made to maintain the divisor of 14 for seasonal worker claims. It also wants the federal government to review EI Region 2 to develop sub-regions that better reflect local labour market realities.

Davis says the implications of the changes are far reaching and will leave workers in seasonal industries, like the fishery and tourism, without the hours necessary to qualify for EI, or result in a shortened benefits period.