PLP: 1066 Jobs Lost, New Direction Needed
“1066 jobs lost in 2013 show that new leadership, a new direction and new ideas are needed to create opportunities and jobs for Bermudians,” Shadow Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban said.
A recently released report indicated that Bermuda’s employers reported a loss of 1,166 jobs last year, with 34,277 jobs counted in 2013, compared to 35,443 in 2012. In addition, the number of business entities in the Bermuda job market contracted from 4,391 in 2012 to 4,130 in 2013, a reduction of 261 entities.
The number of Bermudian jobholders fell from 25,132 to 24,504, while non-Bermudian jobholders declined by 494 jobs between 2012 and 2013. This was the fifth consecutive year of job declines and the lowest number of filled jobs recorded since 1995.
Mr. Roban said, “1066 jobs lost in 2013 show that new leadership, a new direction and new ideas are needed to create opportunities and jobs for Bermudians. The current approach simply isn’t getting results.
“The Progressive Labour Party has new ideas and solutions in immigration that will put Bermudians first in jobs in our own country. These ideas include:
- An expansion of restricted job categories to reflect Bermuda’s current unemployment reality
- Tougher policing of application and interview policies to ensure Bermudians and non-Bermudians are equally and fairly considered
- Tougher enforcement of existing policies such as English competency requirements
- Working with private employment agencies to identify greatest job vacancies to facilitate Bermudian applicants and students returning from university.
“The PLP have done more than criticize; we’ve offered solutions. We call on the OBA to embrace our solutions and join with us in putting Bermudians first and moving these ideas forward,” added Mr. Roban.
Let’s be real, those “solutions” won’t create a single job.
Yep. They have not one single idea that will create a job.
laughable.
I see the PLP down voters have come along. The post above got about 27 down votes in about 15 minutes.
Looks like an automated astroturfing to me.
I noticed that too. Out of nowhere all these “down votes” on anti-plp posts started coming. Yet, when you talk to the average person on the street, they don’t have faith in the plp being government anytime soon.
Been going on for quite some time, it is the Alaska hall ( plp headquarters team ) doing it!!! They do it to me frequently because they know I am never fooled by their nonsense!!!
1066? That’s one in the eye for you Roban, and your clueless PLP pals.
You make it up as you go along.
Betty / Lavern / SherryJ or whatever name she goes by must be busy hitting the “hate” button today.
These are terrible ideas. All I see are more restrictions. Restrictions and regulations landed Bermuda where it is today. Hardly a “new direction.”
We’ve got a new direction .
It’s called ‘not the PLP’
Walter Roban, how would you know what direction to take. You were lost for 14 years. Go back to sleep, you’re a total loser.
Bermuda Boy,you are are so right… Roban has an identity problem,
and we all know what that is ..
Yes, more restrictions, that will make the business entities want to stay here.
Correction:
A new direction WAS needed.
That’s why we voted out the useless PLP.
These ideas secure bureaucratic jobs to enforce existing rules and regulations, which generally have the effect of making Bermuda an undesirable place to do business. Not sure if Mr. Roban has ever held a role in a business which requires entrepreneurial insight, but from this he clearly needs to improve his understanding how an economy works, and even more importantly, how to restore an economy that has been shattered by ill conceived policies …..
So after 18 months of being in Opposition, The PLP suddenly now have all the answers.
Right.
The OBA is not obligated to live up to any promises they’ve made in the past . And they won’t !
More nonsense from you.
PLEASE try posting things that are true, not stuff you made up.
When will we have the referendum on gaming Mike ? That was one promise , shall I continue ?
yes please do….and then, to provide some contrast, maybe you could also provide us with a list of incidents in which the plp lied to and deceived the voting public or were found to be acting unethical (but not illegal of course)……many thanks
“Bring it, bring it”. Marc Bean.
Why are you asking me? I’m not the OBA.
Does the English competency standard extend to Opposition Leaders and Opposition MPs? If it did, Bean could concentrate on his gambling scheme and Bud would be out of a job…
You DON’T have new leadership, you DON’T have new ideas, and you definitely DON’T have any new direction…what we missin here?!
If a new direction is needed per Rayban a NEW DIRECTION should not include the PLP cause remember it is the PLP that got us in this mess.
Have a nice day bermuda.
The only direction the plp knows is, ” backwards “
hogwash!
I was an unemployed Bermudian and I can tell you – these ideas/solutions won’t work.
there are employers out there who don’t give a damn and an equal amount of employees who don’t give a damn.
there are employers out there who practice fair and equal work practices and there are employees who do the same.
there are employers out there who are only looking out for their bottom line and will hire the cheapest, easily manipulated labour out there and there are employes who are willing to “sacrifice” in order to make a $$$. some are being exploited.
there is a proliferation of drug/alcohol users who are employers and employees and it is difficult to hire someone who is in this category.
foreign workers come to Bermuda on a 3 month temporary permit and if the employer is not satisfied – back on a plane they go. 3 months is ideal as it fills a void during the busy season (summer) and a Bermudian is displaced by an employer who is following the rules.
just my musings for the day.
no matter what policies are in place – Bermudians will be marginalised. make sure you have your education and your connections. represent yourself well, network with the right people and you will get a job.
employers – do the right thing and be honest with us Bermudians.
employees – do what is right and don’t be taken advantage of and stay employed
First off, I am happy you said you WERE unemployed!! While I will not comment on other employers and their tactics, because I simply don’t know, but this employer can only tell you that last year I advertised for an employee and I clearly said I would be willing to tran the right person, my only stipulation was I was going to have a police background check and drug test, and guess what, I had a total of 8 applicants??? My brother at the same time was advertising as well and he also said he would train, the only difference was he did not mention background/drug test! He stopped counting after he had over 90 applicants!!! What does that tell you?????
Then you should be like your brother.
Stop discriminating.
Naughty Kangoo…………….
You are not serious are you? As a person with a criminal conviction, I can understand the comment re: police check, but as am employer today, I cannot think of a single job category or employer that wants a drug user on staff….nothing to do with discrimination. Period. Having a criminal conviction hurts chances of future employment. Fact. And current drug use virtually assures you can’t a job and is a precursor, like it or not to other problems surrounding the employment relationship.
@wondering, I was trying to say this earlier but couldn’t find the right words.
You’ve hit the nail right on the head.
thanks
The question that should be asked is:- Will real Bermudians did/will loose their jobs.
I need a rum……………………..
No, i think you’ve had enough rum. You make no sense whatsoever…as usual. Sit. Stay. Good dog.
No more rum Terry but get back on your meds!
A new direction is being implemented (new from the past 8 years)….stop moaning at every turn and let it take hold.
What about the 6000 jobs lost due to the PLP’s ideas? Conveniently forgotten.
I think we can safely count the most recent job losses as PLP losses too. You can’t turn around an economy overnight (and only 8 months of that year was during the OBA term anyway).
Oww that was bad of me “xenophobia”.
6000 people who are not paying into the consolidated fund which helps to keep Bermuda financially stable. Term limits and zenofobia! Which administration championed those solutions?
Are these guys serious??????!!!!!!! First of all, those jobs were lost due to the absolutely disgustingly bad policies and management regimes put forward by the last government which continue to negatively impact the job market and economy as a whole, and will continue to do so for some time yet. Generations in fact. Yes, the economic damage they did in a few short years through sheer personal greed will take GENERATIONS to repair! Secondly, nothing this guy is saying is practical. NOTHING! Surely anyone reading this with even a shred of common sense can see this!!!!!!???????
That is were the problem is, the plp sheeple CANT see it???? No matter how much pain they are feeling, they just don’t get it??? You can’t fix stupid???
Don’t be offensive and superior.
At this point everyone knows the PLP put us into this mess. The only people who don’t are the people whose salaries depend on not understanding it (politicians and talk show hosts).
SherryJ…u listenin? Most biased wanna-be talk host ever. PS: a good talk show host sees ALL sides of a conversation… Pathetic attempt at hosting. Epic fail…but u know that already. Old news.
when I walked into the warwick esso at buzz there were two workers both none Bermudian doing a job that a Bermudian can do if Bermudians can’t get the simple jobs in their own country what do you all think is going to happen.
you don’t see that in the Jamaica, Barbados or st.kitts just to name a few because the people in those places don’t stand for it
Interesting. How did you know they were non Bermudian? Are you certain they were not spouses of Bermudians? Seems like a big assumption on your part.
Did you ask how many Bermudians applied for the job?
Thats it exactly. How many Bermudians applied for the job?
How many completed an application completely without any spelling errors, submitted 2 written professional references as required, showed up for the interview on time, attended work each day for the first week on time, perhaps even worked 20 mins late to finish a task although not paid for the 20 mins, did not suck their teeth or rolled their eyes cuz I took too long too order, worked even through it was their birthday and most importantly, had money on their phone when the employer needed to reach them? People have to manage a business to see the S@$$ that employers are subject to…gotta see it to believe it. Just can’t make this stuff up.
No, u dont see that in St Kitts or Jamaica because people there understand the value of a job and dont feel entitled to a job in IB even tho they only have a high school education. Duh!! Dumbest comment award winner: frank.
I am happy to see the PLP putting forth suggestions. The OBA is hiding behind a narrative that everything is the PLP fault yet prior to the election they promised they had the answers to everything yet are delivering on very little. No one expects OBA to fix everything in 18 months, but their lack of movement on key areas needs to be acknowledged.
Perhaps it is time for new leadership…
Mr Dunkley?
Mr Richards?
I think you answered your own question “No one expects OBA to fix everything in 18 months”! They promised 2000 jobs in a five year term, and the economy is turning. They might not make 2000 jobs, but it is too soon to judge.
Meanwhile David Burt thinks the way to grow jobs is to decrease bureaucracy, Roban wants to increase it – will the real PLP stand up?
Hey I have a great idea let’s put the PLP back in because they did a great job and deserve to be back in
Why are there so many Philipinos in jobs Bermudians are capable of doing? Lindos has them packing shelves and now Market Place has a manager at Shelly Bay who is quite rude . Bermudians have mortgages to pay and children to educate. The foreigners are sending all their money back home .
Are Bermudians applying for these jobs?
If Bermudians are not applying they should be and should be reliable workers, on time and hard working and prove that they are as good ,if not better than the foreign workers. Perhaps these firms are getting away with paying them less than a Bermudian?
Or perhaps Bermudians are applying, getting the position bc of their passport then pissing away the opportunity they are given by showing up late or not at all, not working weekends, needing to leave early for a sniffle nose…….yadda, yadda, yadda…so then an expat has to be hired to do the job.
And before anyone asks how these individuals got work permits it might help to find out if they’re Spouses of Bermudians. And if they’re on work permits the first question to ask is how many Bermudians applied for the job.
Amazing how you can look at people at tell whether or not they’re Bermudians.
You also instinctively know just by looking at someone what they do with the wages they earn.
You must be a mindreader.
actually the Manager you called rude is NOT rude at all..
if you want to go into who’s rude,look no further than Somer’s Supermart in St.Georges..there is a grey haired old Bermudian pretending to work and is the most rudest person I have ever come across!
Guess who won’t be shopping there!
The “ability” to do a job is quite different from the “willingness” to do a job. Don’t get it twisted.
Oh dear Kiskadee, the Phillipinos? Pathetic low blow, which reveals you to be a cave dweller. Seriously what is it with Bermuda and the Phillipinos? There are bad things in this world, pick on something truly bad.
Lovely, warm people who are willing to do the jobs that Bermudians seem disinterested in. I don’t see why you have a problem with that.
“An expansion of restricted job categories to reflect Bermuda’s current unemployment reality.
Tougher policing of application and interview policies to ensure Bermudians and non-Bermudians are equally and fairly considered.
Tougher enforcement of existing policies such as English competency requirements.
Working with private employment agencies to identify greatest job vacancies to facilitate Bermudian applicants and students returning from university.
These are not “new” solutions, these are the trite and worn suggestions that the UBP were encouraging you to implement during your years of importing those very workers you REFUSED to kick out of the Island.
REMEMBER: When Bermuda went from went from Over-employment (2, 3, even 4 jobs) to 12% UNEMPLOYMENT.
REMEMBER: When Bermudians were “encouraged” to take Pot Washer jobs, but could not be waiters/waitress because they were not “QUALIFIED”.
REMEMBER: When “Bermudians” in all the service industries (Carpenters, Electricians, Masons, Plumbers, most self-employed BLACKS)were forced to be Legally Licensed by the “People’s Party”.
Walter Roban, where were you during those years?
What I want to know is how do you know they are not Bermudian? They could be a spouse of Bermudian and having been married and resident for ten years they are granted status. Before you start we are all granted status , some by birth / parents some by marriage and years ago there were those granted status from 25 years on .
While I support the hiring of bermudians over work permits ,too many people ASSume people who do not look like them are not Bermudian .
@ Inquiring minds. Now you are venturing into the who is a “real” Bermudian debate. The PLP have lost that before it starts, but back to the question.
Mr. Roban wants to close certain jobs to non Bermudians. Many were already closed prior to 1998 but the PLP lifted the ban.
Mr. Roban wants tougher enforcement of existing policies. Has this only been an issue since December 2012? Anyone who has been here before then knows that has been around for years under the PLP. Now suddenly the PLP want the OBA to enforce it?
it
None of his suggestions will increase jobs, at best means replace work permit holders with Bermudians. Not disagreeing but this is the law already and it is up to the Government, that is the Civil Service, to enforce the rules. This does not increase Government revenue, so be prepared for more job losses in the public sector soon.
Where is “Betty” crowing about why the OBA haven’t created 2,000 jobs in 18 months?
Probably because that same report highlights the MASSIVE job losses under her “PEOPLE’S PARTY”……2008 –2012.
Wait, why was there no attempt made to get hose folks employed in their own businesses to spur economic growth like Marc Bean was preaching to the “Faithful” 300 at the $150+ a pop dinner at the Southampton Princess?
Now it’s all about “The Government” should be PROVIDING JOBS, “The Government” should FORCE employers to provide a living wage when employers themselves are struggling,”The Government” should give every high school senior a fully paid ride to university for EVERY year (despite the millions that are available from exempt companies and private entities).
If the OBA government doesn’t carry out the People’s Movement’s “MANIFESTO” (the PLP’s) demands what will happen?
REMEMBER folks, this “Movement” sprang into being, a WEEK after the PLP, the BIU, and Reverend Tweed held a function to feed Bermudians who took part in offering a free dinner offer held at Reverend Tweed’s church hall, which is to to be lauded. I am however left to wonder if the OBA was EVER encouraged to participate as well so that would have been a bi-partisan event. Bet the PLPbiu were blaming the OBA for these individual’s problems and stressing to them the NEED to form this “Movement”.
Someone lie to me and tell me that this wasn’t the case.
It’s way more than 1066. That’s all that are registered.
Wow,Rayban don’t give up.Killed Bermuda off and now talks nonsense.
SO Woban’s new direction is to return to the failed policies that destroyed our rock… ok got it
@ Kiskadee
actually the Manager you called rude is NOT rude at all..
if you want to go into who’s rude,look no further than Somer’s Supermart in St.Georges..there is a grey haired old Bermudian pretending to work and is the most rudest person I have ever come across!
Guess who won’t be shopping there!
Simply put…. No.
Rayban has become an embarrassment. Only a complete fool would fall for his line of total BS and he knows it.
PLP are a bunch of losers and are finished.
They will never return to power – DREB can’t even save them now.
I find this a bit rich coming from the PLP when you consider that in the year ending 2012 Bermuda lost 1956 jobs under their watch! That’s right folk under the PLP’s last year in office Bermuda lost almost 80 percent more jobs! You have to slow the tanker down first before you can turn it around!
lol,
No matter what the oba/ubp will blame everything on the PLP.
You only going to get 1 term so spend the whole time blaming the PLP but ffs do something and call it yours.
Hey Walt…1000? That is better than plp…honestly….I have a question for you though…paving Bermudas’ roads cost taxpayer some 90,000,000…yup…ninty million to do thoroughly…while plp were in office….how many times was this budgeted….and perhaps paid out?….cause only remedial work here and there has been done….but as a tax payer….I require to know a little bit more….I don’t mind paying taxes …but I request and require that necessities are meeted before other things,plp…you built a brand new hospital…most people are afraid to go there….we have to save our money to go there…it’s very costly,and often requires a mortage,to recieve substandard equiptment services and treatment….it makes no sense to purchase insurance…they want sixteen hundred for basic insurance….not comprehensive….then your paying for their lawyers who constantly look at ways to deny claims……neither one is regulated or legislated to cotrol product to reasonable world standard cost…..some fool got it in their head that their services were worth more because the adverage exec. Makes more….it is not reflective of reasonable adverage cost for services rendered….I can asure you govt both prior and new…..that the consumer…(your comstituant)….have a legal right and expectation to reasonable value for dollar….and a reasonable right to adverage medical standards world wide….adverage insurance….their costs are exobitant….and substandard at present.Also they do not reflect inflation…they appear to cause it!
Do not overtly regulate….license to boat? You reduce the quality of life when you do what they do in other countries, there are abuses that are inherent with overt regulation…..but…..if you really want to regulate something…..if you have to do that….do it where it is needed and required……!See above!
The PTP (PLP) so full of it they need to take a laxative LOL
WHO put us in this situation in the first place THEM 14 fourteen years of NOT having a clue.
Lost jobs! more Bermudians lost jobs under their rule/reign than all the Country’s years combine, don’t let us talk about debt and wasted/lost money as we could be here for weeks trying to solve the unanswered questions.
As i said in my last post Mr. PLP and others what is a real Bermudian as there were NO humans here when the Country was first discovered so we all came from some other foreign Country so don’t give me that c–p about real Bermudians.
So, no ideas for creating new jobs, just ideas to transfer jobs from non Bermudians to Bermudians (I assume “real” Bermudians is what he means). Policies that the PLP already KNOW are doomed to fail if they just reflected on their time in govt.
Well,well,well. The woflas PLP have de answers to the problems de created.
The unemployment problem and the promises made to solve it will sink the Govt.of the day.
The question can they realisticaly put thousands of people back to work. — it’s going to take a miracle
I see that a lot of non Bermudians still have there jobs. – that helps with the growing anguish here – OBA your got real big problems facing you.. – the Premier should only brag when he can solve the unemployment problem and not before.
So what is the problem?
1) Lack of $ and disposable income to spend on local business that drives local jobs.
2) Lack of overseas US $ investment in companies that spend $ on local business and that hire locals
So what is the answer?
Simple. Forget Politics and racial agendas! Time for action!
1) We need to generate an influx of people from overseas who can bring a level of disposable income to Bermuda and spend it on Bermuda and help Bermudians in the process
2) We need to generate an influx of business from overseas who can bring a level of disposable income to Bermuda and spend it on Bermuda and help Bermudians in the process
Either way we slice it we need more people in the Bermuda economy to drive our economy!
Right now we are all pushing our $ around and not attracting $ from overseas into our economy – it is a recipe for disaster!
We need to embrace the businesses and individuals who hold high $ posts to domicile in Bermuda.
We need to have a short window where this opportunity is available (e.g. next 2 years) to the first 100 companies who will bring their $ and their people to the Island on a long term basis (e.g. 25 years) and also create a minimum of 15 local jobs each (1,500 jobs) and stop worrying that it is not the CEO post that is not up for grabs – it is not a conspiracy aginst Bermudians – someone needs to bring the $ and lead – and it is not us 100 percent of the time!
We have some very bright, motivated adults who have responsibilities to meet and kids coming out of college and no jobs for them to get their teeth into!
Bermudians have to re-learn that sharing our Island as a “home base” (and I dont mean giving it away) with people from overseas is what our Island really needs to survive – we need the US $ – we need the opportunity that US $ create – we need to put thier US $ to work for Bermudians!
We must realize that we need people from outside of Bermuda to help provide the framework and capital for these opportunities!
So lets start really acting like a true “Bermudian” by accepting that we cannot do this alone and let’s be very gracious and welcoming to those who can help us!
No one is going to give it to us Bermuda – we have to learn and earn what we can from others and over time we also earn the right to lead and move up the ladder – but we cant if there are no ladders!
Bermuda needs to be a super-society of the brightest and best that exist in the World and the brightest and best learners and earners too!