Some migrant workers in Bermuda are being abused and mistreated by their employers, according to the head of an anti-abuse charity.Laurie Shiell, of the Centre Against Abuse, said yesterday she has heard reports of foreign workers not being paid, or even sexually assaulted, only to be forced into silence by the threat of losing their work permit.Speaking at a forum hosted by the Committee for Migrant Workers, she said: “I heard of a woman who was raped by her employer, and was told not to say anything or she would be thrown off the Island.“These individuals are migrants. They have their work permits held over their heads. Sometimes they don’t even have work permits.”Ms Shiell said that through the Centre, she has been told of people who have travelled to the Island for work only not to be paid.“If someone is not here to stand up for the rights of the workers, these issues will happen.“Once we educate a person and they understand their rights they can move forward in power.”Other panel members included BIU president Chris Furbert, Amnesty International Bermuda director Robyn Skinner, lawyer Juliana Snelling, Bishop Robert Kurtz, and a representative from the Department of Labour and Training.Ms Skinner stressed the importance of protecting the rights of everyone, particularily those who are vulnerable like foreign workers, who sometimes have only a limited knowledge of English.“We cannot allow those who help support Bermuda’s economy to be abused,” she said. “While our Employment Act is there to protect all our employees, it needs to be improved so that they don’t fear they will lose their jobs if they speak out.”Both she and Bishop Kurtz stressed the importance of education in protecting the rights of non-Bermudians, noting that the Employment Act is being translated into other languages to help keep foreign workers aware of their rights.Mr Furbert noted that the Island has a broad range of foreign workers, with 42 nationalities being employed at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital alone.Asked about job postings for certain positions, like live-in nannies which sometimes feature a long list of requirements, he said: “I look at those and wonder what world I’m living in.”He also noted that both employers and employees have rights that need to be protected, saying that with the increasing prevalence of technology, more workers seem to be spending more time on their cell phones while at work.“That is absolutely wrong,” he said. “I honestly believe that we are supposed to produce an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.”Ms Snelling spoke about the Employment Act 2001, explaining both its significance and what it means to both local and international workers.While the act does not specify a minimum wage, it does require employers to give employees pay slips showing what they are paid and what deductions are being made.