Government yesterday promised to put an end to a rising trend of worker abuse on the Island.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister David Burch told members of the Bermuda Industrial Union that such incidents would be "fully investigated and addressed".

"Recently, I have noticed an increasing trend of abuse of workers generally, and I wish to put all on notice that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated," he said.

Senator Burch made the remarks at the opening of a seminar hosted by the BIU and Building and Woodworkers International.

"Migratory workers leave their homes and travel to other countries in order to meet the skill and labour shortages within the host country," he said.

"For the most part I believe non-Bermudian workers are being treated fairly during their employment in Bermuda. However, one case of abuse of workers is too many and when reported will be fully investigated and addressed."

Bermuda's workforce includes approximately 7,000 foreigners, he added. Most vulnerable to abuse are those not proficient in English.

"In July 2008 I wrote to stakeholders to advise that the Ministry was looking to introduce a policy that would ensure that persons issued a work permit needed to be proficient in the English language.

"This is not an attempt to shut out workers from non-English speaking countries, but a means to assist those persons while they work in Bermuda.

"If they have a level of proficiency in English it decreases the chances of them being exploited by their employer because of their limited understanding of English."

He added: "We do not wish to see anybody, Bermudian or non-Bermudian, ill-treated by their employer. I urge those who are being exploited or abused on their jobs to seek recourse through the Department of Labour and Training."