Companies which do not give opportunities to young, qualified Bermudians, will lose out when waivers on work permit term limits for foreigners are handed out, Immigration Minister David Burch warned yesterday.

Sen. Burch said firms which are committed to Bermudians can get waivers from term limits for key workers, while those which aren't can only expect three-year extensions for similar key workers.

He told Hamilton Rotary Club companies have to provide him with evidence that they:

• provide entry level positions to young Bermudians;

• provide equal payment and benefits to young Bermudians and non-Bermudians;

• demonstrate that they have programmes in place for developing Bermudians.

"If a company provides evidence that they are meeting all three criteria, then I will grant waivers to those work permits holders that are in the categories identified (key workers), regardless of their seniority," said the Minister.

However, for those that don't meet the criteria, he said: "I have granted three-year extensions rather than waivers from term limits, even though the position may, on the face of it, be eligible for a waiver."

Explaining the rationale for the stance, Sen. Burch said: "One area where we continue to receive a number of complaints is that there is a dearth of entry level positions created for young Bermudians leaving high school and university.

"I am cognisant of the challenges with the standard of education in Bermuda.

"However, there continue to be a number of young Bermudians who graduate from accredited universities, some with double majors who have trouble finding entry level positions when they return to Bermuda.

"We have to ensure that while we continue to cultivate an environment where businesses feel welcome and can continue to be profitable, we have also to ensure that Bermudians are benefiting from our booming economy.

"The last thing that either the Government or the business community want to be responsible for is the creation of a perception that there are two Bermudas: one that is wealthy and mainly non-Bermudian; and the other which is poor and struggling and mainly Bermudian.

"We must work together to contribute to an economy, so eloquently described by the Minister of Finance, as being where 'the have-nots have and the haves have more'.

"This cannot be done by Government alone. The public service cannot provide jobs for all entry-level positions, nor would that be a viable economic solution.

"The private sector must contribute by ensuring that such opportunities are made available to suitably qualified young Bermudians."

Sen. Burch also said Government has invested significant sums in an upgrade of its work permits system, which should be completed by the end of the year.