They are also being urged to consult Government during the drafting of legislation aimed at protecting the environment.

The call came during last month's International Labour Organisation (ILO) seminar attended by employers' groups from Bermuda, Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The October 11-13 seminar -- entitled "Environmental Management in the Caribbean'' -- was held in Kingston, Jamaica.

Bermuda Electric Light Company's environmental officer Mr. Wayne Carey was the Bermuda Employers' Council (BEC) delegate.

In a Press statement, the council said the seminar encouraged employers' groups in the ILO Caribbean region to work together in boosting the environment.

Groups were urged to: Promote environmental awareness through training and information; Consult with Government during drafting of environmental legislation; Guide people on environmental law; and Spread information on "environmentally sound technology''.

"These initiatives are perceived as part of a new environmental function which employers' organisations must add to their traditional activities in the areas of employment practices, industrial relations, and management training etcetera.'' According to the statement, the seminar provided a first opportunity for the BEC to swap information on the environment with other members of the Caribbean Employers' Federation.

"The clear message delivered at the seminar was that environmental sustainability has commanded a very strong position in world affairs.

"Employers' organisations were challenged to be catalysts for accelerating the integration of environmental management initiatives into corporate decision-making concerned with profitability and growth.

"The seminar gave concrete examples of how sound environmental management can be a source of profits for business and industry.

"This was embodied in the concept of `pollution prevention pays', which was interpreted to mean that a pollutant is a resource in the wrong place.''