Government's plans to include gender and nationality in the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality's (CURE) annual workplace survey has met with a general positive response from the business community.

"In terms of the issue with gender we take no issue with that at all," said Charles Gosling who heads up the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce. "We feel that it's in fact long overdue that CURE look at all examples where restrictive or preferential practices might be in place." But Mr. Gosling said that he would want more information on the purpose of including nationality before formulating a position.

Immigration work permit controls are already in place to track the progress of Bermudians in the workplace, he noted.

He said requiring employees to state whether they are Bermudians or non-Bermudians may not be a problem, but asking for specific nationalities might be a little problematic.

The Bermuda Employers Council (BEC) is "all for it", because CURE would now be able to get a fuller picture of the workplace, said executive director Andrea Mowbray. "We've been asking for that since the initial CURE came out. It's really the only way they can get accurate information. It's going to sway results if nationality is not in there. What they want to know is how Bermudians are doing and whether there is discrimination within Bermuda...The issue is they are not getting a complete picture without putting it in there. That way it will give them a better idea of what markets we are pulling out of."

She said collecting information on gender was necessary since one of the reasons for the CURE survey in the first place was to find out why black males were "falling through the cracks".

Richard Calderon, spokesperson for the Bermuda International Business Association, said the matter had not yet been discussed by the body's executive.

The plans were revealed Friday in the Throne Speech which sets out the legislative agenda for the Parliamentary year.

Companies with ten or more employees are currently required by law to fill in forms detailing the racial breakdown of their workforce.