which Government wanted back in October.

Businesses can be fined $1,000 for not filling in form three of the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) regulations which give a race break-down of the work force.

In December, Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister threatened to name and shame the nine firms which were not complying.

And in early January he said the Government was in contact with them and a response was expected within "a couple of weeks.'' But yesterday, Government was taking the softly-softly approach to the five remaining rebels.

Director of Human Affairs Major Kenneth Dill, who oversees CURE, said: "We are taking advice from the Attorney General's chambers.'' Asked if legal action would be taken Mr. Dill said: "We want to exhaust every possible avenue first to get them on board.'' Mr. Dill said he didn't know why the five were still holding out.

He said: "We sent them all the correspondence and tried to track them down.

"There's no location, there's just an address. If there was a location we would go and visit them.'' Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister said: "They exist, they pay the payroll tax, they pay social insurance. But it's a P.O. Box type thing.''