told she must leave.

Miss Minda Gapaz is appealing to Minister of Labour the Hon. Irving Pearman to renew her work permit.

But Mr. Pearman believes Miss Gapaz has broken Bermuda's immigration rules by "job-hopping''.

Originally from San Pablo City, in the Phillipines, Miss Gapaz worked in Hong Kong and Singapore between 1982 and 1988.

She became a live-in nanny/housekeeper at a house in Pembroke through a local agency between January and August of 1988. She was released to work in an "executive household''.

For the next two years she worked at a house in Cobbs Hill Road, Paget, moving on to another Paget home for two years before her most recent employment, also in Paget.

Miss Gapaz's work permit expired on December 1, last year, when her last employment was terminated.

Miss Gapaz believes she had not been treated fairly, being expected to work up to 65 hours a week for as little as $500. She started feeling the strain of having to cook, clean, drive, shop and prepare menus.

She said she had only had one 24 hour period off during the whole time of her last job. She said: "I asked my employer for a review of my times and money, and that they both be reduced.'' Following her request she was told that she was to leave and given two months severance pay.

Miss Gapaz wrote to the Department of Immigration in November and had to wait until January before she was refused permission to live and seek employment.

She appealed to the Minister, in January, but again the request was refused.

It stated: "The Immigration policy allows for one job change in five years.

You came to Bermuda in 1987, other than your first position, where your employer did not require your services any longer, you have held three other positions.

"You are directed to settle your affairs and prepare to leave Bermuda on or before 28th February,1994.'' Miss Gapaz said: "I only intend to continue working for another couple of years before I retire back to the Phillipines.

"I am appealing to the Minister to give me a chance. I am appealing to him to take a second look at this.'' Mr. Pearman confirmed Miss Gapaz had been asked to leave the Country.

He said: "Four jobs in six years is outside of our policy. We have the policy to prevent job-hopping.

"She has already appealed to me and I do not know if there is an appeal past the Minister on an immigration case like this.'' A spokesman for the agency for which Miss Gapaz was employed said there would be another appeal.

Miss Minda Gapaz.