look at future prospects for Bermuda's workers.

"If we in Bermuda are at all to be successful in the next decade we must learn new tricks,'' chairman Mr. David Lines told his 50-strong team of businessmen, hoteliers, senior public servants and labour officials at their first meeting at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.

Set up earlier this year by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan in response to fears about unemployment and the recession, the task force's brief is to review the island's economy, analyse the present job situation and then come up with a plan to ensure workers can make the most of future opportunities.

"Bermudians must be reassured that they can continue to rely on Bermuda for secure employment,'' Mr Lines said.

The task force will deliver a draft report by the end of the summer and a final version by the end of the year.

It will consider whether Government should provide more training or retraining of employees, and whether labour relations could be managed differently. Areas being investigated include the make-up of the workforce, the impact of micro-chip technology and employee benefits.