Only 15 companies have applied for recognition as good corporate citizens despite significant work permit benefits being announced last year for those who successfully apply for the standing.

Tighter term limits on work permits were announced last year which put a six-year restriction on the renewal of work permits granted on or after April 1, 2001. But Government said it would give companies the option of seeking good corporate citizen (GCC) standing, in order to qualify for term limit exemptions for areas where it is difficult to find enough qualified Bermudian workers or to be able to keep on 'key' employees integral to the company's success.

But on Monday Immigration Director Rozy Azhar ? during an early-morning Immigration workshop hosted by the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) ? revealed that the Island's corporate community has been slow to seek the term limit exemptions available to those with good corporate citizen standing.

The session ? which attracted about 80 business people ? was held to encourage more companies to apply for the good corporate citizen (GCC) status, Ms Azhar said.

The benefits of Immigration's GCC policy are laid out in the department's W1 General Statement of Work Permit Policies.

It states companies can apply to have "permission-in-principle for categories where there is a severe shortage (of Bermudians to do the job)" and "permission-in-principle for key positions or employees, not included in categories where there is a severe shortage, where the business has a significant physical presence in Bermuda".

Applying for GCC status is free, and it takes about four months to get a decision with the Immigration department having one dedicated person to review applications.

Ms Azhar said the benefits, from Government's perspective, were the comfort of knowing that a company is making a strong effort to recruit and promote Bermudians.

But she said companies must consider whether or not they needed the benefits that can go with good corporate citizenship status, when thinking about applying.

"This is not the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for how good a company is; there is a reason for applying."

One person in the audience questioned if it was worth taking the time to apply for the GCC status, saying he had heard it was a difficult process to complete.

Ms Azhar shot that down saying achieving good corporate citizenship status was really a case of showing that the company is already in compliance with Immigration laws and policies, as well as that it was a good employer.

Specifically firms are asked to show that they follow employment advertising rules, can show they are actively working to recruit and train Bermudians, are current on all payroll and benefit payments and have no recent blemishes on their industrial relations records.

They will also be asked to periodically show Immigration officials that they continue to be good corporate citizens, once GCC status is given.

"No one is perfect, but few have even submitted applications for good corporate citizenship.

"I am here to disabuse you of fears that it is like digging for gold," she said.

"The application is not a pass/failure.

"We can look and tell you specifically what the issues are, if it is not passed."

But lest a company think it can buy its way into the GCC ranks ? a misconception held by at least one company that had submitted copies of cheques for charitable donations it made ? Ms Azhar said criteria go far beyond financial support in the community.

Previously, Immigration officials said: "It must be noted that a business will not demonstrate good corporate citizenship simply by providing a one-off monetary gift. In order to be given recognition as a good corporate citizen, a business needs to sustain the consistent practice of good behaviour.''

Ms Azhar said, although it has not yet happened, if an application was denied, they would identify why the application had been refused to pave the way for a successful application the second time around.

Although saying the process was fairly straightforward, Ms Azhar said companies that are known by Immigration to do very little to promote Bermudians through the ranks, may well find it difficult to get GCC status.

"There is a company right now where we know they are trying to exclude Bermudians. That is a company on our s**t list. In cases like that, we have said to companies that we do not suggest they apply at this time."