equality and opportunity in employment was yesterday tabled in the House of Assembly.

"This (code) represents a significant step forward in bringing fairness and equality to the workplace'' Deputy Premier Jerome Dill, the Minister responsible for the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality, yesterday told The Royal Gazette .

It sets out a range of guidelines that govern the policies, practices, and attitudes of Island employers, individual employees, trade unions, and of employment agencies.

Government meanwhile will wait one year to see if the Code's provisions take hold voluntarily; after that Government will review the progress and if necessary will not hesitate to make the Code binding, said the Minister.

The 17-page Code is being introduced as an amendment to the Commission of Unity and Racial Equality Act 1994 and must pass the House: "hopefully before the House rises for the summer and if not, then in the fall,'' said Mr. Dill.

"Obviously we can't apply the Code to every situation in every employment situation. It's a very flexible document which urges employers to opt for their own adaptive strategies in various workplaces,'' he said.

Reflecting that inclusiveness, CURE liaised with stakeholders such as the Employers Council, the Chamber of Commerce, all unions, and representatives of the hotel industry, among others.

"We expect it to be complied with because the employers have had a hand in its creation. We also expect the same from employees, because unions have also bought into the concept,'' said Mr. Dill.

The Code meanwhile does not substitute for any law that deals with employment and those who fail to observe its standards may be in breach of the Bermuda Constitution, the Human Rights Act, the Trade Union Act, the Act or other applicable legislation, the Code's preamble warns.