Former Elbow Beach staff should apply for hospitality jobs before work permit hold is lifted, says Burch
By Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch
Employees made redundant due to the closure of Elbow Beach Hotel's main facilities have been urged to apply for jobs now or risk losing out to expatriates.
Immigration Minister David Burch told the Senate that work permits in affected sectors have been on hold in order to allow Bermudians made redundant the opportunity to apply for them.
However, this will stop on December 11.
A total of 146 people were made redundant by Elbow Beach's closure. Seventy are Bermudian, 11 are spouses or parents of a Bermudian and five are Permanent Residence Certificate holders. Sixty of those let go were expats on work permits.
Yesterday Senator Burch said: "As is normal practise, when there are redundancies involving Bermudians, the Department of Immigration immediately put a hold on any work permits in the affected categories, which included 25 restaurant or food and beverage staff; 19 in housekeeping; ten chefs and kitchen staff; eight maintenance personal and 35 others in administrative and other categories."
Elbow's work permit holders were told precedence would be given to locals. Several have since found a job but the Senator said many were choosing to wait until the New Year before looking.
He said: "I must warn my fellow Bermudians that they must help us help them. The days that we could pick, choose and refuse jobs are gone. The days that we can go on vacation for a month or more, then come back and walk into a job of our choosing are done.
"I still have work permits on hold in the categories where persons were made redundant. But I cannot hold the hospitality industry hostage indefinitely while persons take their time to consider options. The hotels and restaurants feel under tremendous pressure. They must be allowed enough time for their staffing needs and to recruit from overseas if they need to.
"Therefore I urge all Bermudians who were made redundant at Elbow Beach to register with the Department of Labour and Training... on or before December 11, after which I will be taking the hold off of processing work permits."
Sen. Burch add that many efforts had been made to assist staff impacted by Elbow's partial closure.
The hotel and the Department of Labour and Training held a job fair for hospitality workers. The department also held a resume workshop and organised meetings with staff and union representatives.
Last night Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley also urged those made redundant to take action.
"Even though the holiday season is approaching do not wait until the New Year. Due to the tough economic times that we face and the fact that job opportunities are not as prevalent as they have been in the past, no time should be wasted by anyone who currently is unemployed and wants to work. I am pleased to note that Minister Burch has been vigilant to date in assisting former Elbow Beach employees in this regard."
He added: "It is a sad day that the main hotel building at Elbow, a once proud landmark of Bermuda and our tourism industry, is now closing its doors to accommodating guests in the building. It is another dose of reality that tourism in Bermuda is going through a major transformation, one that has been too slow to take place. It is our understanding that Elbow Beach had every intention to renovate the building and plans are perhaps on hold due to the difficult economic times and the need to invest large sums of money.
"It is also important to note that no investor will make an investment solely based on a tourism return. Other factors need to be in play, such as sales of residential or fractional units, to make the investment work. Sadly at this time even this market as dried up."
