Burch rails against rogue employers

Firms that hire cheap foreign labourers face tough immigration restrictions in a fresh bid to protect Bermudian jobs.

No work permits will be issued for cleaners, masons, carpenters or landscape gardeners without the direct approval of Minister David Burch.

The move is designed to help get Bermudians back to work amid growing concerns over unemployment.

The news came as the Minister announced that he had ‘red-carded’ nine offending firms — ordering an investigation into their hiring practices and freezing work permit applications.

Industry insiders have admitted some rogue companies deliberately shun Bermudians to hire foreigners who are prepared to work longer hours for lower pay. But they say infrastructure is also an issue for many firms and have called on the Government to push ahead with plans for a Job Centre.

Alex DeCouto, a construction boss and Bermuda Democratic Alliance spokesman on labour issues, said he understood the Ministry’s stance on work permits and that there are some firms who deliberately skirted the regulations. But it was sometimes hard for smaller firms, with no office or human resources staff, to keep track of job applications and some would inevitably slip through the cracks.

He warned that some skilled workers were also being ruled out of jobs because companies without offices often requested applications in writing to PO Box addresses.

“Some guys can barely write. They might be a skilled tradesperson but they are put off from applying. I have to give Colonel Burch credit because he suggested the idea of a Job Centre in the first place. Personally I’d like to see it happen. That would go some way to bridging that communication gap between employers and potential workers.”

He said a centre where staff could help people fill out paperwork and employers could check-in each week to vet applications or conduct interviews would go some way to easing the problem.

Col. Burch, speaking earlier at a press conference, said he was concerned that some firms — particularly in the construction sector — were reluctant to employ Bermudians. In one recent case the Minister said he had ‘red-carded’ nine companies who had failed to respond to a job application from a Bermudian ‘master mason’.

The mason was hired by a tenth firm. And the Ministry has now ordered an investigation into why the other nine did not even respond to his application.

“We have been provided with the names and adverts of all those companies where he applied. They have been red-carded which means all their work permit applications – new or renewal – are on hold and must be approved by me. Clearly these firms are not serious about hiring Bermudians and as such they cannot expect the co-operation of the Department of Immigration.

“In each case a company profile of the firm has been requested so that we can see how many staff they employ and the breakdown of Bermudian or non-Bermudian.”

The Minister said closer scrutiny could be expected across the board. He said the Department of Labour, Immigration and Training had taken steps to ensure Bermudians were qualified and employable in the trades. And he said no work permits would be granted in construction and landscaping until he was satisfied there was no suitable Bermudian candidate.

“I cannot allow work permits to be approved in these areas while Bermudians are not even being given an opportunity at jobs. As such, effective immediately, all applications in these categories are on hold pending a full investigation in each case. Concurrently, those applications suitable for processing will be reviewed and approved by me and the Appeals team…

“It would be correct to say there is a moratorium on all applications for masons, carpenters, landscape gardeners and cleaners until I am satisfied that Bermudians are not being deliberately thwarted in the workplace. I consider these draconian steps but in this current economy it cannot be business as usual and employers have a greater responsibility to ensure Bermudians are put back to work.”

He said he would seek an immediate meeting with the Construction Association over the new guidelines. Employers in that sector are already required to consult the BIU, the Hustle Truck and the Department of Labour and Immigration before work permit applications can be processed.

And Col. Burch said there were many firms who were working hard to employ Bermudians. But he insisted there were still those who were not doing enough. He said unemployment issues led to social problems and urged companies to consider the impact on Bermuda before hiring foreign workers.

“I urge employers to not only look at their bottom line when deciding whether to hire Bermudians or not, but to also look at the social impact to the entire community of displacing Bermudians with foreign workers.”