‘Laws That Support Progress In Workplace’
Expanding bereavement leave, requiring employers to provide their employees with a meal break of at least 30 minutes after 5 hours, and placing a moratorium for new work permits on 41 additional occupations are some of the policies that were detailed in the recently released “Ministry of Labour Year End Review 2021.
In the section entitled “preserved jobs and implemented laws that support progress in the workplace,” the report said, “The Ministry of Labour has:
“1. Legislated the Trade Union and Labour Relations [Consolidation] Act 2021 to further strengthen the Employment Act to ensure workers’ rights are protected in the workplace. Additional rights include the following:
- A requirement for employers to provide a written policy against bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace and advise how to access it;
- A requirement for employers to provide employees with a midway performance review during their probationary period to identify areas for improvement;
- Expanded Bereavement Leave to include grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren and great-grandchildren;
- A requirement for employers to pay any wages and other remuneration or benefits owed to the employee upon termination within seven days or at the next interval that the employee would have been paid; and
- A requirement for employers to provide their employees with a meal break of at least 30 minutes after the employee has worked continuously for five [5] hours.
“2. In November 2020, placed a moratorium for new work permits on 41 additional occupations [a total of 53], extended to January 2022. It enabled us to create more opportunities in the local job market for Bermudians.
“3. Enhanced the scrutiny of work permit applications to ensure that capable and qualified Bermudians are not passed over for job opportunities.
“The cumulative effect of the above policies and initiatives have enabled Bermuda to be better positioned to overcome the many challenges that lay before us. Building on these initiatives, we look to strengthening Bermuda throughout the upcoming year when we will take further steps toward building a better Bermuda for all.”
Laws that make it more expensive and more difficult to hire people. Just as inflation gets well into double figures. The usual great planning.
…paid Paternal leave…?
Yesss!!
I’m sure all those baby deddies who vanished as soon as they heard their GF was pregnant will be ecstatic.
These changes are just for show
Like anywhere else, if government wants to improve employment situation further it will come down to investing in education and training
Trying to put limits on who business can hire is self defeating – there is already a big barrier to recruiting expats (uproot your family and move to an island in the Atlantic) and it’s not done lightly. It comes at great cost and local talent is naturally the first place to look – hence to improve local employment prospects government should invest in local education and skills
Also don’t forget, just like any visitor to the island, every new work permit is also a new long term consumer for local businesses
The Department of Labour & Training does precisely that! I don’t know all the details but I know for sure they support education and training for individuals in a variety of job categories where Bermudians are needed.