the outgoing president of the Bermuda Employers' Council.

Mr. Michael Lohan, who yesterday completed his two-year term at the helm of the BEC, said the Island's businesses were emerging from the worst recession in their history.

"For many, the focus remained firmly planted on `the bottom line,' but harsh economic realities forced us to re-evaluate established business strategies, established policies, and established practices,'' Mr. Lohan said in an annual report presented to the BEC's 33rd annual general meeting.

"We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel,'' he said. "We are stronger for having been through tough recessionary times and I am glad to report that the competitive spirit is greater in Bermuda now than it has ever been.

"The recession forced us to become more creative in our thinking and more strategic in our planning,'' he said. "Never before has there been such a demand for `quality performance' at all levels within an organisation, and never before has there been such a need for quality employer/employee relations.'' Mr. Lohan, of Stevedoring Services Ltd., was succeeded yesterday by Mr. Dennis Tucker of Sonesta Beach Hotel. He said the past year was one of "both accomplishment and disappointment'' for labour relations.

"The recession forced all parties to try to find common ground on which to dialogue and resolve problems,'' and a better understanding among Government, unions, and employers resulted, Mr. Lohan said.

There were more meetings, and a three-day Labour Relations Retreat held in April "laid the foundation for open dialogue'' and strengthened the role of the Labour Advisory Council, he said.

The executives of the BEC and Bermuda Industrial Union met several times and more regular meetings were scheduled, he said. Confrontation was giving way "to more more meaningful and direct `business-like' strategies in the tabling of cases, issues and ideologies,'' he said.

"The union's most pressing issues today are job security, training, and retraining.'' The annual report noted that "the dynamics of the labour relations scene have changed dramatically since the Employers' Council was founded in 1960.'' Then, about 70 percent of member companies were unionised, compared to about 12 percent today.

"While collective bargaining and negotiating still represent an important phase of what we do, we are translating the skills used in labour relations into the field of human resource development and training,'' the report said.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman had promised an Employment Code of Practice in early 1994, the report said. "Let us all hope that the code will help to clear the way for the various social partners to reach an understanding on the direction needed to establish harmony in the workplace.''