Tough new laws to protect workers from unfair dismissal are on the cards, Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness told trade unionists yesterday.

Mr. Edness said: "I am determined to address the issue... .and to promote better understanding between the parties through mutual respect and the sharing of information.'' He was speaking at the Bermuda Industrial Union's 15th biennial delegates' conference at the BIU's Union Street headquarters.

Afterwards, Mr. Edness said his officials had looked at the UK industrial tribunal system.

In Britain, dismissed workers can take their case to a three-strong, independent tribunal, which hears evidence from both sides. The tribunal can order reinstatement and/or compensation -- or find in management's favour.

Mr. Edness said labour relations experts had been monitoring the voluntary code on industrial relations introduced two years ago.

He added: "We noticed a lot of complaints about wrongful dismissal -- we think we are going to have to have legislation about this.

"It's such a problem in Bermuda that we want to include it in some legislation, whether it's in a comprehensive bill of fair employment procedures or a bill on its own.'' Mr. Edness said the issue would be put before the Labour Advisory Committee, which brings Government, management and workers' representatives together before draft legislation was drawn up.

Earlier, Mr. Edness told BIU members that Bermuda's workforce will have to adapt to cope with a global marketplace.

He said: "Our geographical isolation cannot insulate us from the new and different approaches coming to the workplace.'' Mr. Edness said forecasters predicted that only firms with good employee/employer relations would enjoy success in the future and that success was only possible through more flexibility.

He added that on-the-job learning throughout the working life was also becoming a neccessity, and that "the reality of interdependence'' had to be recognised.

Mr. Edness -- speaking on the eve of today's debate on a bill allowing mandatory union recognition and derecognition ballots -- said he was satisfied the Island still had a good industrial relations record.

And he added: "The stability of the industrial relations climate will, however, be maintained only if the partners recognise and follow the procedures laid down by law and practice.'' Guest speaker Lloyd Goodleigh, president of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, told the meeting that workers' rights could be abused when new trade agreements are signed.

Referring to the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, due to be signed in 2005, Mr. Goodleigh said: "At the moment there is a forum for capital and governance but there is no forum for labour. We need a labour forum in NAFTA so that, in the year 2005 we are aware that some common standards exist.'' GOVERNMENT GVT UNIONS UNS