FDM Comments On Labour Policy Changes

The Free Democratic Movement issued a statement on labour policy changes.

Worker Bargaining Power at Full Employment

A spokesperson said, “The Hon. Minister Jason Hayward’s decision to relax restricted job categories in hospitality raises a fundamental question: when the interests of unionised workers collide with the interests of a large development, whose side is the Government truly on?

With unemployment reported at 1.4 percent, this is precisely the environment in which workers should be able to use their bargaining power to earn what they are truly worth. An intervention that weakens the position of Bermudian workers in favour of employers — such as Gencom, which is already benefiting from substantial public support — is a misstep. This is particularly concerning as many in the tourism industry have just endured another off-season, doing what they can to make ends meet.

Public Risk Must Deliver Public Benefit

“Bermudian taxpayers have supported the Southampton Princess redevelopment through a $75 million government loan guarantee and more than $120 million in tax concessions granted to Gencom. When the public assumes that level of risk, the public should reasonably expect Bermudian workers to benefit first — not that labour protections are softened to reduce operating costs. If wages in tourism are not attracting Bermudians, that signals a price-and-incentives problem, not a summit problem and not a job fair problem.

Historical Context and Wage Reality

“The 1981 strike, led by the Bermuda Industrial Union, was about dignity and the right of hospitality workers to earn wages that allowed them to live. Today, too many tourism roles still do not provide sufficient stability to meet Bermuda’s cost of living. If wages are not rising, the solution is not to increase labour supply prematurely — it is to allow compensation and conditions to adjust to scarcity.

Constant repetition of the 1.4 percent unemployment rate should signal worker strength, not justify labour liberalisation. The benefit of full employment is stronger bargaining power for those who are the face of our tourism industry.

Protecting Bermuda’s Tourism Identity

“Tourism’s greatest asset has never been infrastructure. It has been Bermudians. Visitors come for the authenticity, charm, and lived experience that locals bring to the front line. A hospitality model increasingly reliant on imported labour risks eroding the differentiator that once made Bermuda competitive against destinations such as Turks and Caicos, St. Martin, and Anguilla.

Accountability in Labour Policy

“The Minister of Economy and Labour cannot serve two masters. This Government has historically relied on organised labour as a foundation of its political support. It cannot now present itself as a champion of workers while advancing policies that reduce their bargaining power at the first sign of pressure. Especially where taxpayer guarantees are involved, Bermudian workers must come first.”

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