Government will be taking a hard line on immigration infractions, says Labour Minister Derrick Burgess who warned it will not be business as usual under his watch.

Speaking during the Budget Debate yesterday, he said a new policy would be introduced, particularly in the construction industry, to ensure that there will be an apprentice hired for a specific number of work permits issued.

And he said existing immigration policies will be strictly strictly enforced.

These include:q Ensuring that all jobs in categories where there are already suitably qualified or where young Bermudians are qualifying are advertised — whether they are three-month temporary work permits or one to five-year work permits

[obox] Ensuring when there are lay-offs or redundancies, Bermudians are the last to be laid off or made redundant

[obox] Ensuring that employers adhere to the rule that Bermudians are always hired first before other categories of resident, including spouses of Bermudians and Permanent Resident Certificate holders

[obox] Ensuring that employers when granted a work permit for one type of job, resist the urge to use that employee for additional jobs that could otherwise be filled by a Bermudian

[obox] Ensuring that employers are treating all their employees, Bermudian and non-Bermudian, fairly and according to the terms of the Employment Act 2000.Mr. Burgess said: "Unfortunately, a by-product of our thriving economy is the increase of employers who either do not know or choose to ignore Immigration policies and procedures and good employment practices."

But he said when employers do not adhere to good employment practices, Bermudians will not work for them.

"We have heard all too frequently the stories of bad employers who will then hire non-Bermudians, treat them badly and threaten to have them removed from the Island if they complain."

At that point Mr. Burgess's opposite number Trevor Moniz interjected: "That sounds like the Minister."

Mr. Burgess reminded companies of the policy that infractions may result in work permits being revoked and the offending employees being required to settle their affairs and leave Bermuda.

Employers who continue the offending behaviour will not be granted any further work permits.

And Mr. Burgess said this was already being carried out.

"While much has been made of the treatment of certain non-Bermudians in the news media, what has been largely ignored is that persons are asked to leave when they ignore this very principle."

And Mr. Burgess said Government will be introducing a policy requiring the employment of an apprentice or a student or prisoner on day-release for a set number of work permits granted — with that number yet to be determined.

"I have been consulting with members of the construction industry to agree a reasonable ratio of work permits to Bermudian apprentices.

"Once I am satisfied we have determined a reasonable ratio of apprentices to work permit holders, the policy will be published in order to inform all stakeholders."

Although the policy has not been finalised he said Government pressure was already reaping benefits for Bermudians.

Mr. Moniz said the Budget speeches from both Finance Minister Paula Cox and Mr. Burgess showed Government was in an election mode.

"There is a certain amount of bashing taking place on the international companies," he said.

He said non-Bermudians generally were in the firing line in a calculated attempt to polarise the community in preparation for the election.

"We have all seen it before and it continues now."

He said work permits were increasing because of the economic upswing.

Earlier it had been revealed there were 10,614 work permits in late 2006 compared to 8,362 in the last quarter of 2003.

Mr. Moniz said: "Government has failed to take some of the heat out of the economy."

And he said large construction jobs in the pipeline such as Southlands, the new Hamilton hotel and the new Hamilton Police Station would likely see demand for more construction work permits.

Now there was a backlash and Government was ratcheting up the rhetoric, said Mr. Moniz, and promising a hard line.

He said non-Bermudian spouses of Bermudians were now being targeted but that approach was wrong headed as Bermuda had over-employment.

And he said Government had started to recognise this in another area — by scaling back the six-year term limit policy.

He said former Immigration Minister Terry Lister had said only one or two employees in a company would get key person status to evade getting the chop. Now Government was recognising many more could be exempted.

He said the term limit policy had been about getting rid of foreigners before they could claim citizenship in the event that Bermuda went independent.

"Overall I think it would be better for all of us to recognise if we want Bermudians to progress up the ladder they need to be trained and educated to do so. The figures show people with education generally speaking advance at a much higher rate."

He said Government had been in power for nine years and needed to accept it had failed in education.

"When it is your watch you take responsibility? If you cannot get it done get out of the way and let someone else do it."

But instead the failure of Bermudians to advance was being blamed on the boogie man of international business said Mr. Moniz who labelled that stance cowardly.

Government was demonstrating its anti-foreigner stance in a number of ways — even with its policy on adoptions, said Mr. Moniz.

He said couples were adopting overseas children, going through the official channels here only for Immigration to say the child was non-Bermudian.

And referring to his public spat with Mr. Burgess over the rights of non-Bermudians to speak out he reiterated human rights did not apply to only one sector of society. People needed to learn to disagree said Mr. Moniz.

"If you don't agree you beg to differ, you can argue as much as you want."