Construction companies who hire a disproportionate number of guest workers could find themselves refused work permits, Government said yesterday.

The promise of tough action came in the light of a warning from local construction workers that they would blow the whistle on companies who bring in cheap labourers from abroad and refuse to employ locals.

Industry spokesman Louis Somner said earlier this week: ?We need to get our Bermudians back working. We have the law on our side. If you are doing wrong, we are coming after you.? He has previously outlined concerns about guest workers, who he has claimed are robbing hundreds of locals of jobs. He has also hit out at lax health and safety measures on work sites, and criticised the Labour and Immigration departments for failing to enforce the law.

Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs Robert Horton (pictured) said yesterday: ?The Department of Immigration is aware of complaints from Bermudians and Bermuda companies that there are companies that are bringing in cheap labour at the expense of Bermudians. We are concerned that this practice disadvantages not only Bermudians looking for work, but also those Bermudian companies that hire mainly Bermudian staff. The offending companies have a competitive advantage by bringing in cheap labour and are, therefore, able to underbid for jobs because they do not have to invest time and money in

recruitment and development. Regrettably, the companies suspected of engaging in this practice are owned by Bermudians. As a result of this practice, the Minister has directed the Department of Immigration to start asking companies who have applied for work permits for the names and roles of the Bermudians in their employ. If the company appears to be hiring a disproportionate number of work permit holders in relation to their Bermudian staff, then the Minister has directed that no work permits be issued to that company.?

Mr. Somner last night welcomed the news from the Minister. ?We would commend him if that?s the case. We?re not trying to criticise the Government, but to work with them to get our people into work,? he said

Alex DeCouto, President of the Construction Association of Bermuda said: ?We encourage specifically through a Code of Conduct a commitment to ?Bermudianisation?, recruitment and training. We would support consistent application of the rules and regulations of the Departments of Immigration and Labour. If there are firms that are flaunting or breaking laws, they need to be brought to justice.?