Firms which break the law by discriminating against Bermudians should be removed from a list of good companies, according to business and union leaders.

Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) unleashed a string of accusations against construction firms across the Island, which it claimed paid Bermudians less than expatriates doing the same jobs.

Other allegations included employers threatening workers with the sack if they joined the union, new employees being told not to mix with "lazy" Bermudians and top jobs repeatedly being given to people from overseas.

It is also claimed some labourers are being brought in from abroad on wages of just $7 an hour.

Union spokesman Louis Somner — who said the offending companies were members of the Construction Association of Bermuda (CAOB) — called for the Government to penalise them by removing them from the Good Corporate Citizen List.

Mr. Somner said such firms should remain off the list until they had received a certificate of rehabilitation.

The CAOB hit back yesterday, claiming it promotes professionalism and Bermudianisation in the construction industry.

President Alex DeCouto said he agreed companies which break the law should be targeted by the enforcement of Department of Immigration regulations.

Referring to the CAOB, Mr. Somner said in a statement: "When you have members that abuse human rights laws such as same work, different pay for Bermudians.

"When you have members that abuse the employment act by telling their employees that they're no allowed any sick pay until they've been off for four working days.

"When your members tell new arriving workers that they are not to seek union representation or risk their contract being revoked.

"When you have members that tell arriving guest workers not to associate with black Bermudians because we are all worthless and lazy.

"This is some code of conduct that you have — it is a code that promotes discrimination at work."

Mr. Somner also criticised previous statements from the CAOB that the group promotes Bermudianisation.

He said: "How are you Bermudianising when your training and educating methods are designed to keep Bermudian workers underemployed?

"How are you Bermudianising when you are not giving opportunities to advance to foremen or superintendent Bermudians, instead you constantly recruit from overseas, whose skills are questionable to say the least."

Responding to the attack, Mr. DeCouto said yesterday: "The CAOB and its board of committed volunteers works very hard to promote professionalism and Bermudianisation in the construction industry.

"We would refute any claim to the contrary. Our members go to great extents to adhere to the rules and regulations of the Department of Immigration, and to recruit and train Bermudians.

"Companies abusing the system and expatriate workers are not good corporate citizens, and for all intents and purposes gain unfair advantage over those of us trying to do right by the industry and the community.

"We would add our voice to that of the BIU and other representative groups calling for fair and consistent enforcement of the Department of Immigration regulations."