filling out new Commission for Unity and Racial Equality registration forms before the deadline next Friday.

Employers expressed concern earlier this week when they discovered the deadline for the forms, which must be filled in by all companies with more than ten employees, was two weeks away.

The Bermuda Employers Council said it had been contacted by a "considerable number'' of companies on Tuesday after reading in The Royal Gazette that the form had to be completed by February 4.

Companies were worried because they did not have any information about how to fill out the forms.

But yesterday BEC executive director Malcolm Dixon said he shared Government's confidence the forms would be completed in time.

He said: "We understand employers have received the information and received the forms.

"It is very straightforward and the employers I have spoken to or have got back to me have said the form is not a problem. We don't anticipate any problems or getting it back by the 4th.'' A Government Information Services spokesman said yesterday that 503 CURE forms had gone out, covering every relevant company in Hamilton. There may be a small number at the edges of the Island which are still awaiting their forms.

By yesterday morning, 30 had been returned. Companies face a $1,000 fine if they fail to complete and return the registration forms by Friday.

The GIS spokesman said the form, which was sent out at the beginning of the week, was simple to fill out and could be completed in minutes.

Any companies which have not received the form, can find it printed in Monday's Royal Gazette .

The form requires basic information such as business address, nature of business, contact telephone and fax numbers, and the number of employees.

From March 1, Government will monitor recruitment, training, promotion and dismissals at companies to ensure there is no racial discrimination in the workplace.

Companies will need to fill in annual forms about the ethnic make-up of their companies.

The GIS spokesman said yesterday: "All of the employers in the Hamilton area will have received the form as of today.

"We've already received a lot of filled-in forms. People should not worry about the forms because it is not going to take anyone any time to fill in.

"Because of the numbers of forms we have had back, it would indicate that people are opening the envelope, filling it in and sending it back with no problems at all.'' BUSINESS BUC