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Dear Sir,

Re: Response to the national workforce study by the Bermuda Employers' Council - The Shift: An Examination of Employment Trends in Bermuda - June 2008, and its resulting debate in Parliament on May 15, 2009

The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) joins those who applaud the Bermuda Employers Council (BEC) for their contribution to dialogue on employment trends in Bermuda.

The report, 'The Shift: An Examination of Employment Trends in Bermuda - June 2008' and its debate in Parliament (May 15) underscores the need for dialogue and appropriate action to prepare Bermudians for the workplace that will include guest workers. CURE submits its response to the continuing debate toward change that begins by accepting the need for change.

The article 'Make expats feel welcome - Grant Gibbons' appeared in the May 18 edition of The Royal Gazette. CURE continues to affirm the value and need for foreign workers to help service the demands of Bermuda's workforce.

Also, CURE continues to affirm that its statistical reports are vital to help identify demographics of groups within the workforce; and to show how those groups fare with respect to opportunity provided to Bermudians and non-Bermudians in the workforce.

CURE is pleased to continue to inform industry and the general public about such data, its analyses and its employment trends for Bermuda. Acceptance of the facts provides an objective basis for constructive dialogue and commitment to change; change in policies, procedures and practice - change based on fairness, justice and equity; change in favour of both Bermudians and guests who are welcomed as an integral part of Bermuda's workforce.

What are some of the facts identified by the BEC study and highlighted by its continued debate? CURE would suggest the following as selected for continued reflection:

n Bermuda's workforce will continue to demand the presence of guest workers;

n Appropriate education and training of Bermudians is a must to prepare Bermudians for all employment opportunities provided in Bermuda;

n Multiple factors must be considered when interpreting conclusions drawn by a given study, such as the BEC research on employment trends;

n Collaborative action must inform how industry, the Government and the general public will profit from research on issues impacting the composition, relationships and productivity of the Bermuda workforce.

CURE provided a response to the BEC report in a letter addressed to Martin Law, Executive Director of the Bermuda Employers' Council; the letter was dated October, 20, 2008. CURE commended the Council for its study, affirmed the value of many of its findings and invited opportunity for continued dialogue.

CURE also questioned conclusions of the study on its interpretation of CURE's data - data collected by the Department of Statistics during its annual employment survey. CURE downloads data based on CURE criteria, analyzes the data and submits its report to Parliament and to companies.

The reports of CURE have been affirmed by statisticians as statistically sound and its conclusions provide an accurate record of the state of the races in industry, based on the criteria established. The absence of more detailed information on race relations in the workforce does not negate the validity of conclusions derived that are representative of the workforce in general.

What the report does not explain when citing facts about disparity in employment opportunities, are the reasons for disparity among groups in the workforce. CURE conducts follow-up visits with companies to discuss racial demographics for respective companies to better understand reasons for disparity and to suggest possible actions to meet the challenges.

Accept the facts

CURE welcomes constructive criticism to improve its measures for progress in race relations. CURE also invites industry to accept the facts revealed by statistical data, and to be committed to provide fair and equitable compensation and benefits as well as equal access to employment opportunity to all Bermudians.

Multiple approaches are needed to build a workforce that reflects the demographics of Bermuda's racial and ethnic groups. For example:

n Quality public and private education provided to all;

n Effective mentoring and management development programmes provided by companies for all;

n Equity measures practised by companies to ensure fairness to all.

Collaborative efforts are needed to build racial harmony and promote equality and inclusiveness for Bermudians and guest workers. For example:

n Validation of Government and companies that give evidence of work equity policies, procedures and practices that are fair to all;

n Support for collective processes of research for the value of conclusions concerning employment trends, as well as statistical facts about race relations, issues of disparity and needs of identified groups who have not experienced access to desired employment opportunities;

n Commitment to build on the strengths of all participants committed to building community and harmony for a stable and growing economy and for a Bermuda that provides a secure future for its citizens and a home away from home for its guests.

The Commission will continue to produce credible statistical reports to inform policy and initiatives by Government, companies and other community organizations.

Also, the Commission remains open to dialogue with all stakeholders in Bermuda, "to help shape the future economic and social prosperity of Bermuda." The Commission believes that collective input to guiding Bermuda's future will ensure a Bermuda whose assets and opportunities are enjoyed by all.

Michelle Scott,

Chairperson, CURE[[In-content Ad]]

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