Moratorium: Over 75 Work Permits Not Renewed
This morning [June 1] Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kim Wilson spoke in the Senate about a variety of employment matters.
She said since the implementation of the moratorium on work permits in certain job categories, including landscaping, cleaning, and kitchen porters, more than 75 work permits in these categories have reached term and have not been renewed. She said that number is expected to swell to close to 150 in the coming weeks.
On 1st April, 2005, the Government introduced the Payroll Tax Relief Training Scheme to encourage companies to hire and train Bermudians in all professions. The initiative waives payroll taxes applicable for trainees, for approved training programmes for up to 24 months.
Minister Wilson said, “I am obliged today, on behalf of unemployed workers, to invite all employers, in the spirit of developing a sustainable workforce for Bermuda’s future, to take advantage of the payroll tax relief training scheme. The payroll tax relief scheme is an excellent way for employers to realize some relief as they endeavour to train and/or retrain Bermudians in areas of industry where there is a genuine need. There is a healthy number of unemployed Bermudians with base-level skills that can be effectively reintegrated into the workforce where there is a will on the part of the employer.”
Minister Wilson’s full statement is below:
Madam President, you will be aware that one of the many tools that the Department of Labour and Training has at its disposal to assist with workforce development is the Payroll Tax Relief Training Scheme.
On 1st April, 2005, the Government introduced the PAYROLL TAX RELIEF TRAINING SCHEME to encourage companies to hire and train Bermudians in all professions. The initiative waives payroll taxes applicable for trainees, for approved training programmes for up to 24 months.
In 2010, six (6) companies applied and were granted approval of training programmes involving a total of 37 employees. In 2009 there were four (4) companies that were given the tax concession, involving six (6) employees.
In the 2 year period, a total of 10 companies have taken advantage of this opportunity, and government records show that 43 Bermudians have been the beneficiaries of training as a result of these programmes.
Madam President, the Payroll Tax Relief Training Scheme, whilst not new, provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to partner with Government to develop skilled resources in areas where there is a specific need.
Madam President, you will be aware of the moratorium on work permits in certain job categories, including landscaping, cleaning, and kitchen porters. During the period since the implementation of the moratorium more than 75 work permits in these categories have reached term and have not been renewed. This number is expected to swell to close to 150 in the coming weeks.
Notwithstanding the abundance of Bermudians seeking employment opportunities however, some employers are experiencing difficulty in attracting fully qualified and experienced Bermudians with the full range of skills required to fill many of the newly vacant jobs.
That said, the Ministry is finding that many unemployed workers merely require an opportunity that incorporates an element of retraining to build on existing skills to address the gaps.
Also, many of the unemployed workers have demonstrated, as a result of previous employment, that they are able-bodied and capable of being trained or re-trained to achieve the standard required in order to render the services needed to do these jobs.
An example would be a construction worker, with three years experience as a labourer, having worked for one employer, being retrained for an entry level post in the landscaping area.
Madam President, I am obliged today, on behalf of unemployed workers, to invite all employers, in the spirit of developing a sustainable workforce for Bermuda’s future, to take advantage of the payroll tax relief training scheme.
The payroll tax relief scheme is an excellent way for employers to realize some relief as they endeavour to train and/or retrain Bermudians in areas of industry where there is a genuine need.
There is a healthy number of unemployed Bermudians with base-level skills that can be effectively reintegrated into the workforce where there is a will on the part of the employer.
Madam President, the scheme is in accordance with Section 23 of the Payroll Tax Act 1995. Interested employers should submit the “Application for Approval of Training Scheme” Form together with an outline of their training programme, to the Office of the Tax Commissioner.
The application package should include a breakdown of the specific topic or area of concentration, the length of training, the number of participants and their names, as well as proposed career development and promotional opportunities for candidates upon successful completion of the training where such opportunities exist.
The Tax Commissioner’s Office will collaborate with the National Training Board to assess the proposed training programmes for approval.
Madam President, the aim of this tax concession is to help Bermudians to improve their knowledge, skills, an aptitude. And, in today’s environment, to help Bermudians to become gainfully employed through providing employers with an incentive to retrain specific segments of our local workforce to do the jobs that are currently available wherein their base skill sets are appropriately matched. It is my hope that our private sector partners will seize the opportunity and work with us to reset the dial.
Thank you Madam President.
good, I need a second job…..and not scared of grunt work….Thanks Minister!
The end is nigh.
Here endeth the lesson.
RIP Bermuda.
This woman is hilarious if she thinks Bermudians are gonna do those types of jobs for the salary these places offer. They’re gonna want at least $30 per hour, while the people previously doing the job were probly making half of that.
We were better off just renewing the work permits Lol.
Pretty close to the mark there “Thinky”………
Your last sentence sums it up but will people actually reading this get it?
Thats 75 less renters, shoppers, gas buyers, beer drinkers…………………
Their counter will be……’More money in Bermudians pockets’…..
Get a F%%$@$%^T*()(**&$% life.
I look at it this way, in all sincerity, it’s the bloody UBP fault.
Irony is, and all honesty, I just purchased this morning another book by David Baldacci, “LAST MAN STANDING”. I swear to God I did.
What irony after recent events.
I need a rum.
For the most part, I agree with Terry. My exception is that this is NOT the UBP’s fault. Yes, they brought International Business here (thank you for that!) but it wasn’t the UBP that jacked the rents up to the insane level that they are at. IT WAS THE GREEDY LANDLORDS!!! Oh, and they are BERMUDIAN. Did IB ask to pay outrageous rents? NO, they got taken advantage of by greedy landlords! Let me repeat myself: GREEDY BERMUDIAN LANDLORDS! And who suffers – the IB employee? No, they get subsidized rents. WE GET HURT – we, the working Bermudian whose rent also went up – WE GET HURT. (Why do we hate these ex-pats so much? Because they went to college and got advanced degrees that we didn’t? Always a mystery to me. They aren’t taking a job away from me – I’m not educated enough to apply for their jobs and I admit that.)
And who are these 75 non-renewed work permits going to hurt? The BERMUDIAN COMPANY OWNER!!! When the cleaning companies and landscapers can’t find willing AND ABLE Bermudians to not only apply for these jobs but also show up everyday to clean other people’s toilets and pull their weeds, the company fails and that’s one more Bermudian without a job – without the company he built! So can someone tell me how kicking 75 hard working toilet cleaners, weed pullers and pot washers out of the country is helping us? Please tell me!
Not all are Greedy Landlords. How about the fluctuating interest rates on mortgages cause SOME landlords to charge high rent to supplement their mortgage payments? Note I said SOME.
99.9% of them are gready. How else do you explain almost all the studio apartments being rented for $1600 or more, one bedrooms for $2000 or more and so on? The last place I rented wanted $2500 for a one bedroom. That’s frigging ridiculous.
Exactly! And don’t even get me started on the higher end homes going for 10k – 20k PER MONTH! Don’t tell me those houses haven’t been paid off 2 or 3 times over – there’s no mortgage suffering from inflation there. That is GREEDY LANDLORDS taking advantage of International Business and screwing the rest of us in the mean time. PURE GREED got us in the position we are in today. Thanks a lot greedy landlords.
It is this kind of thinking that has landed us where we are today. So Thinky would begrudge a Bermudian getting $30 an hour. Really, does Thinky understand that the Bermuda Poverty Line, sorry, Low Income Threshold, is approximately $57,000 per year. $30 an hour would take these people a mere $7,000 a year over that line.
I used to find it amusing when I heard this kind of nonsense in the past but now it just pisses me off. Thinky and Terry need to put aside their bias and accept a few facts starting with the conditions that restaurant workers and other service industry folk have to endure. Being paid straight time when working overtime etc. Construction workers not being paid Union scale—construction companies hiring foreign labourers at a fraction of the cost—construction companies crying that they can’t find Bermudians –BS(they can’t find bermudians prepared to work under union scale)—the BIU turning a blind eye, go figure—-AND even with the savings that the constuction companies enjoy by employing cheap labout they still charge the customer the going rate–In the end it boils down to cheap labout=lower expense and more profit. Simply about profits –nothing more, nothing less.
How do you know what contractors are charging. It is so easy for ignorant people to hear a sound bite of crap and jump all over it, as though it was fact. There are no contractors who will open their books to you or any of the other ignorant people that keeps repeating this load of crap. If you all don’t know about market dynamics, you all need to shot up. There is no way a person is going to pay high construction prices in a market, where there are more contractors looking for jobs, than there are available jobs, but you all would not know that. Too lazy to seek the facts for yourselves. You all are pathetic.
If you dont bring them in at all employers will be forced to raise the rate of pay and you will get more Bermudians
Let’s see how good my math is. half of 30 is 15. 40 times 15 is $600…. without deductions! How is an honest working person meant to survive off of that? Just asking
Why are there no stats on how many Bermudians have been employed SINCE the moratorium started? Surely it would be in everyone’s best interest to have these stats, otherwise its just shooting in the dark.
Exactly! But in addition to the number of Bermudians employed SINCE the moratorium, I also want to see how many of them are STILL gainfully employed. What the heck, while I’m asking, why not provide their attendance records too!
All this is going do is make way for people who already have a full time job, get a part time one, which I’m all for, cause Lord knows I’ve been looking for a part time job for almost a year now. And you know what, I don’t NEED it like others do, I just want to be able to save more, so I can hurry up and get my family off this island.
SO for those of you who are unemployed and aren’t willing to jump at this, (regardless of the wages, you’re getting NOTHING right now, you’d be getting SOMETHING at least) thank you very much, more money in my pocket….
To be honest I have worked for minimum wage and still applied for a job in my field. Bermudians do need those jobs even if they are not for long term placement. the unemployment rate in Bermuda is no laughing matter. I hate when I hear the term “Bermudians are not Hard workers”
This brings up another problem for the Bermudian Cleaning / Landscaping / Restaurant owners – - frequent turnover of Bermudian employees. I totally agree with what you have done – get ANY job until you can get a job in your field (and I’ve done the same) but that leaves the Bermudian company owner with a non-reliable Bermudian work force. I have friends who have stopped having their house cleaned because the cleaning company sends someone different each week. That is happening more and more with the recent permit revocations. And what happens to that cleaning company? They lose customers, credibility and eventually their company. What happens to the restaurant owner who has to spend money training someone new every other week? He has to raise his prices, we can’t afford to eat out any more, his restaurant closes. Look at Greg’s Steakhouse – PERFECT EXAMPLE!
JMO nobody cares about the people that own business most people that do not own a business think all employers are rolling in it. Me and my Girlfriend was just talking about how much we Miss Greg’s Steakehouse. The Banks play a big roll in all of this as well but yeah keep kicking the business owners they are to greedy people do just as JMO says they come to for you for awhile till they get a better job not even a month and they are gone it just crazy. Here the part most people don’t see when they leave for the job and it not working out they come back to you lol.
GOOD !! Tell em GO HOME TOO !! These damn foreigners dont spend their money here anyway. Before i was working (As of May) i was getting frustrated seeing all these Fillipeno’s and s%$t around here working..GOOD Riddance !!!
So what time will you be coming round tomorrow to clean my toilets and pick up dog crap in my yard before mowing it?
Are you saying thats all the Foreign workers are good for? That’s why they were here, to clean you toilets and pick up you dog crap? Unbelievable!
No, I’m not saying that at all – don’t bring your ignorance here mate. I’m saying they are the only ones that were available for the job! That, my friend, is what is “unbelievable” as you say. These guys show up every day, they show up on time, they aren’t stoned, they don’t talk on the phone all day long… I’ve become good friends with them and really appreciate all they do. I tried to get locals to fill jobs… guess how many applied – I’ll give you one guess. That’s what’s “unbelievable.”
@ Ignorant comment.
If you all read the the article, you will see that the types of jobs these people did were cleaning, cooking, landscaping etc. All of which a Bermudian WILL NOT DO, or will not do as well as they did. I actually prefer going somewhere and dealing with a filipino or indian versus a Bermudian, because guess what? They don’t give you attitudes, dirty looks or act ignorant.
Such a stupid choice not to renew their permits. Just another nail in Bermudas coffin
@ Ganja mon
You’re a moron. That is all.
Are you serious or joking right now? If you’re serious then Keep smoking that Ganja, It’s giving you an awesome warped reality.
“These damn foreigners dont spend their money here anyway.” HUH????!!! Palm to head interface!
Ganja Mon………….Your a fool. Everyone leaves, bussiness, people, vat yoo gunna do?
Smoke weed all day? No fuel to fish, run your boat, turn dee fan horn.
Two grunts a week off dee rucks…….Gotta love …..
Dont agree. what they make is theirs. Send home the foreigners: and who is going to operate on you tomorrow as we have foreigners in so many areas…..the island will collapse if Bermudians dont step up to the wicket, put their blackberries down and serve the people. even on Works and Engineering they are digging trenches and looking at their blackberries. what a joke. Next we will see staff at Rosemont revolt because of their human rights. Rosewoods new regulations are a high standard but Bermudians with two and three earrings and multi coloured hair wont like it. so Rosewood will go and the hotel will go all because we want to do what we want to do and to hell with their investment.
You are just many of the ignorant ones! These Filipinos buy their food here, pay their rent here, shop here and don’t go to the US to get their stuff… so where do they spend their money? They send money home yes but most of it stays in Bermuda. You get what I mean? And please don’t pick on Filipinos. There are other nationalities here. There are more Jamaicans here than Filipinos…
with a name like Ganja mon I bet you wasn’t looking for any jobs lol what you mad at the fillipeno’s for see we are funny people we work and live all over the world but don’t want anybody to come here lol priceless.
Ganja mon,
Filipinos pay rent
Filipinos pay foods
Filipinos pay bus pass
Filipinos buy gas
and who doesn’t here in Bermuda..
ganja mon, there is nothing free here for expats..
AND MOST OF ALL….
FILIPINOS KNOW HOW TO PAY RESPECT..
how could you say foreigners dont spend their money here..
by the way, do you spend your money here? MAYBE NOT ALL because you spend your mother or granny’s money..
Ganja Mon It’s quite obvious that you are blaming others for your lack of success, or ability to hold down a job Every company would prefer to keep a Bermudian rather than an ex pat where possible. So ask yourself the question why are you out of job since May and look closer to home. Simple reasons why everyone would prefer Bermudians.
1. No messing around with immigration, works permits, as well as the costs for a work permit
2. The ability to hold onto a valued member of staff who may have taken many years to train, as well as any cost associated with any training.
Unfortunately stereo types such as yourselves mean that workers from other counties such as the Philippines have to be brought in to do the work of 2/3 lazy Bermudians. If it was not for these people from the Philippines cooking your food, washing your dishes, and doing the work that you think is way above you, you would not have the quality of life that you have in Bermuda, regardless of you not having a job. We need to be grateful that such people from the Philippines choose to come to Bermuda and put up with ignorance from people such as you, who obviously have not idea on what makes the economy tick.
I am a Bermudian and I run a cleaning company. I see the many ads looking to get Cleaners to work. And can say unequivocally that they don’t want Bermudians because I receive no less than 20 calls per week from Bermudians wanting a job – yes at $15 – $20 per hour. So Bermudians are willing to work at this level given the environment. My advice though to Bermudians – and this from experience:
1) Show up for work on time. No – show up for work 10 mins before you are due to start work!
2) Work, don’t talk. Work. Honest pay for honest work.
3) Leave your cell phone at home – unless an emergency, no talking or texting during my hour.
4) Wear the uniform to work that I gave you. Clean. Ironed.
5) Be respectful of each client. I dont care where he is from or what lifestyle he practices.
6) Pass the police vetting process!
7) Accept straight pay – even for a Saturday or Sunday work – if you are working less than 40 hours.
I love Bermudians and will only employ Bermudians. But I ask of Bermudians what my clients demand of me!
And of you – I ask that you support those doing the right thing and striving to dispel the stereotypes to which we are all subject!
Well I’m looking for a job can i send you my resume. i can meet all of your seven points, and to top it off, i’m a Bermudian.
My son can do the same as TJ listed below..he can meet all 7 requirements….he has applied at so many places ..but everyone has the same “mindset” about Bermudian workers and are casting them all in the same pot..he is a hardworker and willing to do anything..and he can travel from one end of the island to the other..but to no avail….
a ) are you one of those cleaning companies owned by Bermudians, that fail each year to be up to date on social and medicale insurance.
want proof , check with department of social insurance and immigration, to the amount of comapnies (cleaning) companies that are delequent on paying for their staff insurance foreign and Bermudian.
b) straight pay is acceptable, but are you one of the cleaning companies that does not pay holiday pay or time and half during a holiday.
The moment the economy turns around, any Bermudians in these 75 positions (all three or four of them) are going to be heading for the exit faster than you can holler Col. In the meantime, that’s 75 fewer people paying local landlords, 75 fewer people buying groceries, etc. The question begs, how many other jobs other than just these 75 have been lost to placate what are essentially the unemployable. Yet another PLP betrayal of the middle classes to molly coddle a small but vocal rabble who never had any intention of seeking long term, stable employment. If the Cox administration were instead to spend their days getting back all the money from the nouveau riche at Kerwin Communications, Rock Media, Global Hue et al, the country would be a lot further ahead.
I understand the reason why they would limit these work permits but I would say be careful how far you go with this Minister. Especially with the Nanny permits – if Intl Business people can’t get good housekeepers or Nannies then they will start commuting to the island from the East Coast (there are a lot who already do this) which will decrease the amount of money spent on rent, services like cleaning/nannies/housekeepers, restaurants, shops, movies, cars, schools in Bermuda which inturn hurts us all.
Just don’t forget the trickle down effect Bermuda – just because you might not be directly in Intl business doesn’t mean you aren’t benefitting from it in many ways.
I would hope that all the post here talking down Bermudian workers are including all Bermudians no matter what color or capabilities .
Now thats a new approach. Trying to bring race in through the back door.
Ain’t gonna work with me ‘Donald’ Trump.
Why do you need to “stir the pot?” Trying to bring race into this? There’s always one in the crowd. Sounds like you need a little excitement in your life. Try bungee jumping or surfing. Idiot.
I,m saying what many are thinking , excellent responce .Its’ the reason Why I called fools out .
Nope, we’re talking about black Bermudians. White and Portuguese are always on time and do the job that they are paid to do. You don’t have to like it, but it’s true. Also, I am black and Portuguese before you start calling me racist.
I calls it like I sees it Lol
Amen! Honesty for once. The truth sometimes hurts. Deal with it.
The cleaning company I used sent 9 cleaners home and now has no one suitable to fill the roles. So the money spent by the cleaners in Bermuda: scooter purchase, gas, food, electricity, clothing, foreign currency tax and bank fees etc etc is now not in the economy. Bermudians did not fill the roles. I am on the waiting list so I know. Either us Bermudians do not want to do the work or are not qualified/suitable for the roles. So Minister what have you achieved… left us without the assistance my busy family requires, less money in the economy and less taxes collected. BRAVO!
Well done Minister, now Bermudians must step up and take their rightful places, even if it is not the job you want right now !! The world all over is faced with a bad economy so it is not easy any where !!
But they AREN’T “stepping up” and taking these jobs. They feel entitled to a better job than this and would rather sit around making ZERO dollars an hour! (The majority anyway). These jobs are going unfilled and the owners of these companies are being hurt! Way to go PLP! What a stupid move!
Special for you 4 or whatever……..Are you serious?
They can’t get out of their cots, let alone clean the kitchen after Mother went to work. What are you thinking,………..
Hell..um going to KFC and get that server with the name tag Tusanami…..
Minister Wilson why don’t you spend a week working in one of these trades under the current salary. Oh I forgot how much am I as a tax payer paying you $120.000 plus.
Bermudians don’t want anything under $25 an hour. I really hope your trying your best with the other Immigration big wigs to keep a balance.
It seems all your doing is making the mom and pop business suffer by cutting their work permits. Most of the small Bermudian business are owned by people that voted the PLP in the last election.
I feel sorry for you next election……… you better start saving your salary now Minister, because if this trend keeps up I’m not voting for the PLP because of the shade of my skin.
IMHO We need to return at least 3000 more before we get adequate Bermudian employment.
There is no reason to have ANY non-Bermudian working in our tourism product considering how drastically fewer hotels we have now compared to thirty years ago, and yet a slightly larger population. Perhaps if tourists were served by english speaking locals they would cherish their time here more.
How on earth do we have any non-Bermudians still waiting tables and serving drinks? Send them back and hire a local, and don’t cheat them out of tips.
Our construction industry is so crippled that currently there is no reason you can give me to have a non-Bermudian here at the moment, if you don’t have enough people then it just might take a little longer, especially if companies continue to take advantage of the situation and offer Skilled Tradesmen (Masons, Carpenters, Mechanics and Plumbers) hourly rates like $20-$25 or less. We need a picket line of locals out of work on every major site and do not let non-Bermudians work while Bermudians are still unemployed. Companies have no problem LYING to get permits for people because it is in the interest of their bottom line to use them over us. If it is one Bermudian bringing in a load of specialists perhaps that local should learn a trade himself instead of being a permit middleman. Is the BIU scared of the PLP or something? Where is the construction division for all these out of work construction workers?
Out of work over a year and still foreigners in my field…
Wait, you want Bermudians to get out and picket job sites every day? We can’t even get them out to WORK AND GET PAID on a job site for more than a few days in a row.
Get real. This this the reality in Bermuda. You know it, I know it, we all know it. Reality bites.
When I went around to the new hospital site looking for work at the end of last year I was told they already had over 300 applicants and they showed me a massive pile of applications. You might see us in the street and it might look ok but there are a lot of people who are out of work and only just keeping up appearances. In my last job I worked for a year and a half and was not late once and regularly worked any overtime offered at straight pay and still got the boot while foreigners on permits were retained in the same position. The reality my friend is that it is very depressing looking for work day after day and not getting anywhere while the financial problems build. Bermuda might as well start calling some areas of the island “Reservations” for Bermudians who are out of work. Mark my words the next round of deaths won’t be from drunks on bikes or gangsters with guns. It will be suicides of once hardworking people who can’t keep up anymore. Yeah, the reality is that Bermudians won’t get up and picket these sites, and that is tragic. The unions need to step up and get these people organized, trained, certified and back to work. The government needs a swift kick in the pants wake up call and have political positions become performance based, if they are putting the country in debt they should be the first to have their pay frozen, when the country does well and has a surplus they get paid again, reality based like the rest of the people have to live with.
But that doesn’t make any sense. You say that your weren’t given a job that you are qualified for? Something doesn’t make sense there – why would a construction company CHOOSE to PAY to import a foreign employee, pay to house that employee, pay to have a work permit for that employee when you, a local Bermudian with his own housing, are standing on the job site ready to work?? That doesn’t make sense. Employers don’t want to go through all of that cost and hassle to get foreign workers if they can get someone local for the same salary. Why are they not choosing you over the person they have to jump through hoops to get?? If you are just as qualified, willing to work just as hard as the foreigner, show up just like the foreigner would, have the same paycheck as the foreigner would….? What am I missing here? I would hire you if you met these criteria. Wouldn’t it be illegal not to? What am I missing in your plight?
Have documented each case directly to Immigration. After a year of doing this I have been told directly by Immigration that it is not their job and I have to take any issues up through Labour and Training who I have been registered with this whole time…
A foreigner is open to abuses and is willing to do extras in order to keep the job. A local will be looking for his holiday pay once full time, vacation and sick time after their first year and then of course redundancy pay when they are eventually let go. Not to mention the expectation that their pension, social insurance, health insurance and payroll tax portions are going to be managed properly (how many employers are guilty of transgression in that regard?). In many cases I know of permit workers are not paid holidays, have no leg to stand on if they question any illegal/substandard/inappropriate works they are asked to do by the employer. They can be sent home and replaced if they are injured or will have to continue working even if sick or injured. If there is a slowdown in work they can just be sent back home until works progress to a point they are needed again which helps out a lot when a local would be looking to be continuously employed. Often they are brought here and offered one rate and once they arrive it changes and the employer also wants to make extra deductions for things like housing which were not expected or as promised. A lot of people come here and turn right back around once they see the situation but then there are those who are willing to shut up and do as they are told, right or wrong, it is the truth. I have personally had to repair faulty works done by some of these workers who I know personally and they knew better but were told by the employer to do the work that way, they have a choice of a flight or to do it. When it is found faulty they will be gone anyway. There are many many reasons why it is beneficial for an employer to hire foreign labour which is why we are in the situation we are in. Locals are not asking for unreasonable rates, they cannot be expected to work for 1980′s rates nowadays. Everything has gone up but employers are constantly trying to lower the rates for us locals.
To address your construction industry comments, I think you are a fool. Having worked in that field for years, and seeing the reality of it, Bermudians should not have those jobs. They show up late, only really do about two hours of work in an 8-9 hour day, do sloppy work, drink and smoke(weed) on the job and in general just do anything counterproductive. The simple truth is that foreigners(jamaicans, indians, filipinos) and the Portuguese men working in these industries have a far better work ethic and do a far better job, for less pay than what a Bermudian would ask for.
You might have years but I have decades, things have changed over the years and Bermudians are often expected to fit into a mold. Personally I am capable of working 14hrs a day 7 days a week for months at a time and don’t drink, smoke or do drugs and in my last job was not late once in a yeah and a half, we made either 5am or 7am. If I can’t get a job out there right now what chance to the young guys have who have been brought up to have no expectations of them? I’m talking about the guys who show up as a labourer and can’t read a tap measure. Any of these guys can be trained and taught and if given an honest chance could be the tradesmen of tomorrow. If someone wants to come to my country and work for less than locals they need to be stopped at the airport by our government. There is such a thing as getting a fair shot at a job. The purchasing power of our dollars here is far far less then almost anywhere else, if wages were proportional to cost of living in other countries we would not be complaining. Just look at the price of gas here, double the US and the same for most other items and yet our hourly rates are not double and the burden on us for insurance/pensions/payroll tax etc. is way out of line for us and the employers.
Just look at the new condos going up on South Shore in Warwick. Most of the workers are non-Bermudian. How do they get away with this? He has crews of Polish workers here in Bermuda. It’s who you know in the present Government that makes a difference!
@ Robbie, Are you serious? Crews of polish workers? Skilled construction
workers, what are you doing about this? This is unacceptable. Organize.
And those houses are being built under the Bermuda Housing Corp.
Robbie M you’re stupid. If I’m spending money on a project, and want it done on time and at the cost predicted, then I am going to hire people who will get it done. The Berkely School job had majority Bermudians working and you know how over deadline and over budget that went. I know, because I worked on the site.
…have you seen the attitudes many bermudians have in the service industry?? thanks one reason why we have foreign workers there…
Agree 100%!!! Remember Greg’s Steakhouse? He only employed Bermudians – that is BY FAR THE WORST SERVICE I have ever gotten. Looks like me and my large extended family weren’t the only ones who vowed to never step foot inside that place again. I knew it was only a matter of time until those doors would close forever. That’s what hiring only Bermudians can do for you.
@keeping it unreal, what is your field?
where did you apply?
I think it will be helpful if you will mention the name of the company you tried to work with.
I have to Immigration with copies of my applications.
I’s like to see ANY Minister work for what these people want to pay..
PUT UP or SHUT UP!!
and yes,start saving Ministers…because you lot are OUT next election!
Greed – Greedy Business Owners, Greedy Landlords, Greedy Banks & Greedy Employees. We are all to blame for the state that Bermuda is in. I have no problem with permits not being renewed and I look forward for more permits not being renewed. This purge needs to occur.
You forgot one, the biggest one – the system we have all bought into which needs to change radically.
What system is that exactly? Please be clear.
Don’t forget sense of entitlement, lack of work ethic, tardiness, dishonesty need to be purged too. Because taking away the permits isn’t going to fix those problems. Let’s start with that before we damaged the already crippled economy.The foreign workers provide monetary injections into the economy, take that away and we are worse off.
Some foreign workers send out more than they spend. I am sure you aware of that. Getting rid of the permits will not fix the problem as much as it will put everything in our hand to empower ourselves. We As Bermudians Need To Stand Up And Take Charge. To long we have been dependent on others for everything. We need to deal with our internal and external affairs. But we would rather gripe ‘some’ people lack work ethics. ‘Cause they don’t do what you do and how you do it, they are no good? Less reaction and more proactiveness will help us. Try working in another country and send money back to support your family in Bermuda. Let me know how that works out for you.
@JB
Smart man(or woman)
Thank you Very Much @JB!
Should also keep an eye on the Registry General. Likely we will see a spike in Bermudians marrying non-Bermudians so they can stay here and not be forced out. I know of two marriages last month where the happy couple don’t even live together! They never did.
If that’s true, you need to lodge a complaint with immigration. They will be issuing a spousal letter to the non-Bermudian so speak up!
Then you need to report this type of activity to the authorities. We do not need this kind of behaviour at this particular point in time, but the powers that be won’t know unless concerned citizens bring it to their attention.
Bermuda’s new slogan…The Land of Entitlement!
What happened to earning what you get? If you need an education for your desired position, get an education. If you merely need to get to work on time, do it. If you can’t stay off you mobile phone during work, stay home. If you can’t stay off drugs, get help. Don’t blame government. Don’t blame work permit holders. Look in the mirror if you can’t get a job and support your family. Bermudians would fail miserably in any other country that didn’t coddle their own and where citizens didn’t think they were entitled to the “good life” without any hard work and deserving it.
Yes, Bermuda is shooting itself in the foot for the ignorant, lazy people out there. We’ll go from one of the richest to one of the poorest…just let the sense of entitlement prevail!
@ Feel the love, if what you say is true, the question we need to ask is “how did we get that way”. I write “we” because these are our brothers and sisters we are writing about. Think deeply and honestly about how it happened, where it began, how it has been perpetuated and why it continues. Let’s take ownership for our state of affairs. It is only from there that we can create what we want and need.
Exactly!! You are spot on 100%. I know we are not the only 2 people that feel this way too. This is the truth, this is the reality of Bermuda.
bravo
@ Feel the love, Well said. And everyone here that does not, needs to understand that this ‘new age of entitlement’ exists everywhere, not just Bermuda (all over the USA to say the least)…and it seems to have stemmed from years of increasingly difficult financial times and warped attitudes of what is important in life…and more dual-income families not raising children as God would have it….letting the teacher be a parent, or the nanny, or the neighbor…etc. Children growing up with lazy attitudes, weak morals, values, ethical behavior…and a general lack of respect for what makes us real and wholesome, productive members of our society. I love this place and I do understand and respect the fact that my specialized position is one that will need to be given up as soon as a native comes in with the right qualifications. I then will return as a tourist, knowing the wonderful diversity of this soon-to-be-growing-again place. Thank you all.
If Bermudians don’t take these lower paying jobs then they have nobody to blame but themselves. They obviously haven’t had things bad enough yet to get their hands dirty. Just wait a while……
The era of Bermudians having all they want due to entitlement is over – nice while it lasted – gone forever.
What about college grads. I have went to school, finished with good grades and still cant find a job in my field. what about the IT fields? many foreigners !!
“I have WENT to school” There’s your answer right there. You can’t write basic English. As an employer looking for anyone but the unskilled, the ability to speak & write basic English would be a very simple requirement.
The habit of proof reading what is written would help too.
Just because you have come back from school, does not mean you are capable of performing IT functions. The majority of entry positions in Bermuda are held by Bermudians. No right minded company would employ an ex pat for an entry IT job.
The majority of jobs held by ex-pats in the IT field are high specialized and something that a college grads is years away from being able to do. Do you think that a CIO would let you loose on his core network infrastructure just because you have been at school for a few years. Your inexperience could cost the company millions when you mess up, which you will when do as you learn the industry which takes many years.
Also for the record some of the past IT people I know how no education and have the desire and hunger to learn themselves. The so called book smart ones are often the ones which are the best dressed, and have a huge ego to go with it, and no very little about the industry.
@college graduate
Personally having graduated from a technical college for IT June ’09 i can tell you most of my graduating class of Bermudians are all employed in our fields. John is right, no one right out of school should be doing anything more than entry level stuff until they have the experience that goes with the knowledge they have. I hold several certifications and i can tell you real life still teaches me things on a weekly basis.
Keeping it Unreal says:
“Our construction industry is so crippled that currently there is no reason you can give me to have a non-Bermudian here at the moment, if you don’t have enough people then it just might take a little longer, especially if companies continue to take advantage of the situation and offer Skilled Tradesmen (Masons, Carpenters, Mechanics and Plumbers) hourly rates like $20-$25 or less.”
Here’s a reality check for you from the Cayman Islands….count your blessings!
A/C Technician – 5 years experience 8.00-12.00 per hour
Carpenters – 5 years experience, own tools 8.00-12.00 per hour
Masons – 5 years experience, own tols 8.00-12.00 per hour
Mechanic – 10 years experience 10.00-12.00 per hour
Tiler – 5 years experience 10.00-14.00 per hour
Take a wild guess how many work permit holders hold the above jobs because it’s just “beneath” a Caymanian’s dignity to work for this little. They have the same unemployment situation as Bermuda and whine constantly about all the foreigners taking their jobs. I think both Caymanians and Bermudians need to get over themselves and lose the sense of entitlement. Just because you were born a “local” doesn’t mean you automatically deserve the big bucks.
I am a Filipino worker here in Bermuda, and one of the the affected work-permit holders. I am not sure how many days or weeks I still have here, but I will continue the same attitude I have shown over the last years that I have spent here.
Because I am happy and proud that I was given a chance to share my abilities to all Bermudians.
I am devastated due to the current situation here in Bermuda, but I don’t blame anybody. I still don’t have my own house in the Philippines, my sisters are still studying, my parents rely on me. Days or weeks from now, I will be sent home. And I don’t have any idea how am I going to start my life there again.
We are brothers and sisters no matter what color or race we belong.
Minister Wilson, I may not be satisfied yet with my earnings but I am very appreciative for what Bermuda has given me.
Since the Government is brave enough to say that 75 work permits had not been renewed, and probably they’re all back home. They are even saying that it could swell up 150.
Minister Wilson, I hope that the previous positions that these 75 work-permit holders use to have is well occupied.
I hope that these 75 Bermudians are now happy and feel secured.
I hope that their Employers are happy and secured as well.
I hope that this 75 work permits had made a change.
Because the 75 post-work permit holders had already made a big shift in their lives.
It is naive to think that all of a sudden 75 Bermudians suddenly got those jobs.
When a job is advertised in the paper it is usually/generally only to satisfy the immigration requirement of three days and if a qualified local does apply often the response, if there is any, is that they have decided not to fill the position at this time. A lot of legitimate jobs do not get applied to due to locals thinking it is just for a permit (post in the ad that it is not). Another approach is that a general advert is placed for a particular field and all interested locals apply and then a few weeks later another advert is placed with very exact qualifications which just happen to be one step beyond any of the locals in the field who had previously applied. Just watch the trends. Another good trick they pull is to straight out lie and say no locals applied and when you ask they say they must have lost your application.
Personally I have applied and been told by employers that the position was for a permit and if they did not get the permit for the person they wanted they would not be hiring anyone anyway, so not to bother. And yes this has been reported to Immigration and I hope it helped to finally bring about some action.
No disrespect to Filipinos anywhere, I have worked alongside many of your countrymen (and enjoyed singing Karaoke with them) and also many people from all over the world, but today I need a job and it is time for many people to politely leave and let us sort out the problems in this country for ourselves. When we have a surplus of jobs again please feel welcome back but understand we have to take care of our own first.
The moratorium started in February 2011.
The actual fact is that since August 2010, the Immigration has not been renewing any work permit.
It’s been almost five months now since the moratorium was announced.
I am not against what Bermuda Government is trying to do to help out her citizen. Any country would do the same.
75 work permits are already gone. I have read a lot of comments here saying they had been applying for work and yet could not find one. Some are even saying that they are qualified not just because they are Bermudian.
Government should have a moratorium for employers.
I would like to encourage all Bermudian applicants who had tried hard enough and yet did not get the position left by the work permit holder to publish the names of the companies.
How come some company owners say no locals applied to them, that the local they hired only showed up on the first day of work, that locals are on the phone most of the day. And here you are..
Let’s help the immigration find the culprints of this problem. It’s not just one (the work-permit holders), it’s a group of greedy and politically incorrect minds.
@Keeping it unreal: Filipinos who had left the island had been very polite and greatful to Bermuda. They had doubts in their minds. They had questios in their minds. But they just accepted the decision of the Immigration and left the island some with tears, some with smiles but most of them are looking forward to working in Bermuda again..
@keeping it unreal: “Personally I have applied and been told by employers that the position was for a permit and if they did not get the permit for the person they wanted they would not be hiring anyone anyway, so not to bother. And yes this has been reported to Immigration and I hope it helped to finally bring about some action.”
Are you sure about this? There is no such position here in Bermuda that is just for expats.
Bermuda is hiring expats because the position requires expertise.
Before a work permit is grandted, the Immigration gets a chance to study it thouroughly.
Those who are working for the Department of Immigration are experts in their fields. If the employer does not present enough evidence that they cannot find any suitable local for the position, do you think the Immigration will grant work permits?
They have granted permits in the past for multiple positions that I know of personally because I applied for them and I know of many many Bermudians who have had similar experiences. Think about it for a second: Granting a permits generates income for the government and assures that their income will be taxed (payroll tax) while a Bermudian getting the position means no money for government and it is very possible that either the Bermudian will be paid in cash and kept off the books or since they are not “officially” known to be hired then a company is in an ideal position to deduct the employee portions from cheques (just paying the person less) and then not pay their portion at all, the person is a ghost in the system, and often an employee finds out that their insurance deductions never went towards any insurance either. That leave a local in a take it or leave it position. Wost case if they really needed the insurance because they got injured/pregnant etc. and find out they have nothing and end up owing enormous bills to the hospital and doctors which puts them in a position where they have no credit and can be put in jail for non-payment of the bills. This happens more than you think. Watch “Poverty in Paradise” if your interested in learning more about just some of the struggles we locals face while trying to keep our heads held high and keeping up appearances.
@keeping it unreal, take note that the moratorium is only for certain job categories.
I don’t think the Immigration works the way you sees it.
You’re saying that hiring a Bermudian can be off the book. It will not happen if a Bermudian in the first place won’t allow it. You agreed to be off the book because you wanted big take home cash and not even thinking of it’s consequences.
You also mentioned about the insurance not being submitted accurately or not at all. I think you need education on this.
For social insurance, you can check your contributions online.
For health insurance, call your provider.
I have watch “Poverty in Paradise” and appreciate it. But believe it or not, Poverty in the Philippine is a lot worse than that.
Stop hating work permit holders just because Bermuda and her people are struggling.
Bermuda is in it’s current state because of the natural phenomena called change.
Expats are not the sole reason of Bermuda’s unemployment.
Bermudians do not need to say “Go home expats” and leave locals alone to fix their homeland.
We came here not just because we wanted to. We are here because Bermuda needed us. We were called and we responded.
If not because of us do you think most Bermudians would value what they have?
Competition is good if the competitors are friendly.
Good going Minister. Maybe the landlords should withhold landtax for the apartments that these useless foreigners occupied. Property sitting empty won’t need the maintenance of an occupied unit hence less work for Bermudian plumbers, electricians, water truckers etc. With these people gone there is less business at the supermarkets, less duty paid for less food imported, less power used, less duty paid on fuel, gas etc. etc.
Yup, another really smart PLP policy.
To be fair, the PLP are not known for their brains.
You think the minister is doing a good job without foreigners this island would be a mess. Why the hell do you think portuguese, jamaicans and philipinos are on this island for a reason. Bermudians are just too damn lazy. We’ll see what happens when these foreigners are gone.
The notion that locals are lazy has been well earned for many years. It will take many to undo this.
Nobody’s lazy.
People are just not interested into certain things that’s why they don’t do it.
and most of time forced to do something just to have some money.
They are not lazy.
I worked very hard and was made to feel unwelcome by the guest workers as well as the foreign managers. The customers were glad to see us because Bermudians take an interest in what we serve our people. I would not sell you what is bad or looks unapetizing. The guest worker will. I was terminated when I could take no more and pushed back against the ongoing disrespect from the guest workers while the foreign General Manager turned his back only taking notice when I responded to the disrespect. Bermudians are not lazy. I worked just as hard as any guest worker.
I was condemned by a foreign Manager for providing customer service. I was told there is no need to ask customers if they would like a drink with their food.That I must not talk to customers, do not assist them with orders.Keep in mind I have made excellent suggestions for workers who are hungry don’t know what to order and have left the shop smiling. Yes Bermudians always lived a certain lifestyle and to say now that in our country if the guest worker works for $6-$10 an hour that should be fine for Bermudians.
I can not work 12-18 hour shifts 6-7 days a week because I am a single mother. Does that make me lazy or a person that has added responsibilities. None of you care about the guest workers who have died young from being overworked or crashed vehicles after working 12-18 hour shifts. It is not always a case of lazy as a lot of you are trying to suggest. Changing jobs does not mean a bad worker. I feel a level of agrivation when I have learned all that I need on a job and it becomes repetative. So stop labeling people bad because they did not work on the same $5-$10 job for 40 years like a lot of seniors done who now have no pension to back them in retirement.