Three years after the controversial Workforce Equity bill came and disappeared, its chief goals could be reignited under a new proposal from Premier Paula Cox.

In her national plan, Ms Cox says she will "formulate an action plan to redress inequities in access to jobs and opportunities".

The Workforce Equity bill, drafted before the 2007 General Election, planned to introduce fines of up to $50,000 for companies which blocked the progress of black Bermudians.

At that time, Government pointed to figures showing blacks are seriously unrepresented in executive positions, with then-Minister Wayne Perinchief saying: "We can no longer leave the issue of balance and under-representation of blacks in the workplace to good will."

But the bill — the first time any legislation had singled out black Bermudians for help — faced a backlash from employers, who warned it could harm international business and said the education system was to blame for blacks failing to do well.

The bill was never brought before the House of Assembly and Mr. Perinchief complained earlier this year it had "disappeared into an abyss".

During her election campaign, Ms Cox stated blacks are still not getting their fair share of jobs, and that programmes and legislation would be introduced to level the playing field. But she said this didn't equate to the resurrection of the Workforce Equity bill.

Also on the Premier's agenda for fairness in the workplace is an Equal Pay Act, which she says will "enshrine equality of treatment".

This could refer to bringing women's pay into line with men's, a move hinted at by then-Culture Minister Neletha Butterfield this summer.

Ms Cox also said she will be creating jobs for Bermudians through more public-private partnering.