I looked up the:

-VIRGIN ISLANDS LABOUR CODE, 2010

“engage in employment” means

(a) take or continue in any employment;
(b) practise any profession;
(c) engage in any trade or business; or
(d) engage or be employed in any form of
occupation,whether or not such employment, profession, trade, business or occupation is taken, continued, engaged in, practised or carried on for reward, profit or gain;

That clearly means if you do a task you should have a permit.

(12) The Minister may vary the conditions of a work permit granted under this section at any time.

The "Minister" has significant latitude. The Minister of Natural Resources and Labour is Dr. Hon. Kedrick Pickering

170. Subject to section 172, a person who does not belong to the Virgin Islands shall not engage in employment or self-employment in the Virgin Islands unless he or she has obtained a work permit issued by the Minister.

174. (1) A person who fails to comply with section 170 or 171 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding eight thousand dollars,

What does all that mean? If you are traveling to the BVI as a visitor you are expected to have a Work Permit before you do anything that someone else might consider a job. You bet many think painting boat bottoms or houses is a job and even a profession.

The 113 pages of BVI labor code grant "The Minister" very broad powers on how any of the 113 pages can be enforced or delegated. When it comes to sanding and painting boat boat bottoms there could be legitimate environmental concerns along with the importation of materials without the payment of the proper duties.

Technically, this means that you cannot sweep your own floors or do your own laundry without a work permit.

Yes and if you read just a few pages of the more than 100 pages. The law is very clear. The "Minster" has very wide sway on how and when he or she enforces the law and what fees his "commissioner" may charge in applying the law.

The clear intent is to maximize Belonger employment.

Here is a little more cut and paste from the law: