The Opposition has claimed the firing of three Hustle Truck workers has "exposed the fraud that this Government is truly a government of the people".

Shadow Labour Minister Shawn Crockwell made the remarks in the House of Assembly as he raised the issue of Zina Godwin, Sharon Sterling and Keona Smith during the Motion to Adjourn.

Mr. Crockwell said the three women had approached him after being "unlawfully dismissed". He said they were "very distressed" and claimed they were fired after raising concerns about a lack of insurance and pensions cover on the Hustle Truck Initiative. However, Walter Roban, Junior Minister for Labour, said Mr. Crockwell did not have "the full story".

The women, who worked in the office of the Government programme, say they signed a contract which excluded it from providing social insurance and payroll tax. They also had no health insurance or pensions cover. But when they raised the benefits issue with their supervisors and unions on the Island, they claim they received a letter firing them. Mr. Crockwell told MPs on Friday: "Right in the middle of a recession we have three young black Bermudians being fired unlawfully."

By having the women sign the same temporary contract as the Hustle Truck workers, he said the programme was in breach of the Employment Act 2000.

"They were working over 30 hours a week and consistently for more than three months, so that eliminates them from being part-time and temporary, because temporary means less than three months," said Mr. Crockwell.

"These young Bermudians, one of whom was a single mother, realised in September 2008 that something wasn't right.

"They were working since February and six months later they still didn't have basic health insurance. Bermudians working for a programme we all thought was designed to enhance and empower Bermudians in need."

He said: "These Bermudians realised they were being exploited no health insurance, no pension, in fact they were denied the Government social insurance. But they were told that if they continued to make any noise they could see themselves unemployed. So Bermudians, seeking to uphold their rights in a Government-funded programme, are now being threatened that if you keep complaining and standing up for your rights, you may find yourselves out of a job."

After seeking advice from the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) and Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU), the women were then allegedly told that "if they continued to pursue union representation they would be dismissed".

"A labour Government, Mr. Speaker," said Mr. Crockwell. "Threatening Bermudians that if they sought union assistance they would be fired."

He said: "Every Bermudian in this Country should be outraged that in the midst of a recession, a very programme marketed to help people like Ms Godwin, they should find themselves fired, simply because they stood up for their rights. But they refused to remain silent and exposed the fraud that this Government is truly a government of the people."

He said there was now a petition on Facebook to get the three women reinstated.

"How can you do that to a single mother out of employment in a recession? It is unacceptable," said Mr. Crockwell.

"I hope these three individuals will receive their jobs back and receive their benefits on a back pay basis.

"I want the people of Bermuda to see what this Government is really about. We've been dealing with this smoke and mirrors for the last ten years. It's not the first time we've heard of a great programme which never got off the ground and there's a programme to do good for the people but we don't see any delivery.

"I hope this Government will rectify this immediately."

Mr. Roban said that rather than being full-time employees the women were there on a temporary basis, "assisting in the office because the coordinators saw to give them the opportunity to learn skills so they could eventually leave the programme".

But Mr. Crockwell said: "The Employment Act states if you work more than 15 hours a week you are not a part-time employee."

Mr. Roban said the women were "never stopped" from seeking union representation, adding: "This matter is being investigated. Until these matters are cleared up it's best the honourable member and his party take great care on what they report to the House about this."

He said possible criminal charges were pending against the women due to "action they have taken against property of this programme".

"I don't want to prejudice any investigation which may be taken but I think the members of the other side have not taken the time or opportunity to get the full facts of this story."

But Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Shadow Minister of Works and Engineering, said: "We understand this is a labour Government but we also have evidence which has shown in the past ten years, time and time again, the demarcation between the rights of the worker and the intent of Government has been blurred.

"I think somewhere along the way someone has lost their way."

Commenting on marches by workers in the past ten years, she said: "I would never have thought as I watched politics through the ages, listening from 1968 onwards to the attempts of the PLP to identify themselves with the workers of this Country, that not in my wildest dreams, we on this side would find ourselves having to be the lone sole advocates on behalf of people, because they can't go to the Government in whom they have placed trust.

"We are here to listen to all people in this Country and articulate their concerns. People have been shamelessly exploited at the hands of a labour Government."

Finance Minister Paula Cox then said: "I have no doubt the Government does not intend to be in breach of its own laws, so whatever needs to be done will be done. Clearly the Government will act properly in acting upon its duties, and if corrective action is needed we will act on it."