effort to help unskilled workers find jobs.

Speaking before the start today of Government's first-ever unemployment registration, Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said unskilled workers have been hardest-hit by joblessness.

The construction sector that once offered jobs to many of them has slowed almost to a halt. But there is a reservoir of 300 to 400 unskilled and semi-skilled jobs currently held by non-Bermudians, he said.

Mr. Pearman also warned that non-Bermudians caught working without permission -- and those who employ them -- will be prosecuted.

Last year's census indicated that more than 300 non-Bermudians were looking for work, he said, though it was not clear how many of those were doing so without permission.

Mr. Pearman urged all those who are unemployed, and part-time workers looking for full-time jobs, to sign up in the three-day registration campaign this week.

The registration starts today at post offices in the East End, and continues in the West End and central parishes on Thursday and Friday.

The goal is to help the unemployed find jobs and, at the same time, collect information on the scope of the Island's unemployment problem.

The Government Employment Office has typically had between 400 and 600 unemployed people registered over the last three years -- 595 people were registered on Monday -- but the 1991 Census counted about 2,000 looking for work.

"We now need to add details to those figures,'' Mr. Pearman said.

"Information provided to census enumerators is confidential, and because of that we do not know by the figures alone who is unemployed.

"This is why we are conducting this registration -- to match persons with the numbers. It is the only way we can assist individuals.'' Mr. Pearman said the registration results may indicate a need to change the focus of the Government Employment Office and could mean "a more pro-active training focus by those who historically have depended on non-Bermudians to make up their work force.'' Government was prepared to be strict with business, he said, but at the same time it was important to remember that "without business, there's no employment''.

And he warned that many Bermudians looking for jobs will have to accept the shift work required in hotels and restaurants.

Mr. Pearman said it was important for all unemployed, and part-time workers looking for full-time jobs to register.

He criticised comments by Shadow Labour Minister Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans this weekend that the registration was "too little too late''. It sent a negative message to the unemployed, he said, suggesting to them there was no use registering when it was important to do so.

Government cannot guarantee them jobs, he said, because it cannot tell employers who to hire. But if needed, he said, Government can prevent employers from hiring non-Bermudians.

Unemployment registration takes place at the following locations: Today: Post offices in St. David's, St. George's, Harrington Sound and Crawl, and at the Francis Patton School.

Tomorrow: Post offices in Warwick, Southampton, Somerset and Mangrove Bay.

Friday: Post offices at Flatts, Devonshire and Paget, and at the Bishop Spencer School.

All registration takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. On Friday, an additional registration desk will be set up at the Government Employment Office from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.