Business leaders yesterday met with new Home Affairs Minister Randolph Horton in the first of possibly many meetings over proposed work permit limits for expatriates.

Chamber of Commerce president Charles Gosling described the meeting as productive and said he believed that both Government and the work industry had the same objectives in mind.

He said neither wanted to see any businesses pack up and leave over the new work permit policy.

Mr. Gosling said it was merely an introductory meeting, and he believed the second would follow next month.

He said Mr. Horton handed out a copy of his press statement given to the media on Friday on the issue, and, in turn, business leaders were able to express their concerns over the six-year limit work permits, which were introduced in 2001.

"There is a lot of terminology in the policy that still has to be properly defined and I think we are seeing a slightly different interpretation on how the policy is actually going to be put into practise, so, yes, I think there is considerable point to us meeting," said Mr. Gosling.

"It's early days yet, but I think Mr. Horton made it perfectly clear in his press statement that Government did not want to do anything that was going to turn businesses away from Bermuda, whether they be old or new businesses.

"I think we have the same overall aims, although they might be slightly different ways of getting there. "We might not agree on ultimately some of the finer points, but I think we have the same objectives."

Businesses have been told that by 2007 any ex-pat worker who was already working on the Island in 2001 will have to leave, unless their employer can prove they are vital to the company and meet a certain criteria. Then they may be given an extension to stay.