Foreign nannies are working in near slave-like conditions, says BIU president Derrick Burgess.

He said: "They can't find jobs back home and almost take anything they can get. These people are being exploited.'' "It's so brazen. I see adverts wanting people to work 60-70 hours a week.

They want people to work 12 hours a day, six days a week.'' "No one should be required to work on a regular basis for more than 40 hours a week.'' Mr. Burgess claimed many were working without a work permit. "Cleaning firms often use people who have come here on vacation and then who stay on to work illegally.'' But he said nannies and cleaners often found their jobs were in danger if they complained about their conditions.

"Many employers use this on their workers -- they hold it over their heads.

It's a case of do as I say or I'll send you back. If workers report them they will lose their jobs. It's almost like blackmail.'' "These workers are often here earning money for their families to send back home.

"They are asked to do all sorts of jobs as nannies that never used to be the case years ago, such as cleaning up dog mess -- it's almost slavery.'' "But they are sometimes paid as little as $20 a week.'' Mr. Burgess said that these low rates were discouraging Bermudians from entering these jobs.

He said: "When the hotels close they lose lots of cleaners. They would go for these jobs if they were paid properly.'' Nannies treated as slaves "Then they would not have to bring anybody in from overseas.'' He appealed for people to call the immigration hotline or call the BIU or their MP if they knew of anyone working illegally.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox also urged people to inform the immigration hotline if they knew of illegal workers.

She said that foreign workers were being exploited which was pushing down wages and conditions for locals.

But she added that the immigration hotline wasn't a witch hunt.

"We are keepers of the flame as far as Bermudian workers go but we will not sit idly by as far as unconscionable working conditions go for any worker.

"Whether people are Bermudian or non-Bermudian they are entitled not to be treated as slaves.'' She explained that nannies and cleaners were not unique in suffering poor working conditions.

She said she was working on a package to enshrine good employment practices into law.

"Currently there are employers who are spoiling it for other bosses who are doing the right thing for their workers, but we can't act, there are no enforceables.

"We are looking at employment legislation. By the time of the next session there will be a package before the house.'' IMMIGRATION IMM