Statistics of Employment Regulations 1995.

Government Senator Lynda Milligan-Whyte who introduced the legislation, said the Minister of Human Affairs and Information had the power to amend it because he wanted to include the statistical information on the racial composition of the work force.

She said Government wanted to gather this information annually.

"It is a priority of the Government to deal with perceived and actual inequality in the workplace.

"We need to have data on race. Some people are sensitive to the issue of race but it is important to have this data. Bermuda is a multiracial and multicultural nation.'' PLP Senator Terry Lister said his party supported the legislation wholeheartedly and said the appeal for racial data was an "innocuous request that is made not for political advantage but for the good of the nation''.

Sen. Lister said such data would allow Bermudians to discuss the issue of race with statistical facts to back up their assertions.

Senator Larry Scott (UBP) said statistics should be kept by race and they have been done like that in the past.

He said that although there may be some objection, these statistics were important. They would enable Government to see where Bermuda was going and what adjustments had to be made.

Opposition Senate leader Senator Milton Scott commended the Ministry of Human Affairs for consulting with the trade unions when they put this document together.

Sen. Scott said he encouraged all businesses to comply with Government because the data was important.

The draft regulations were then approved.