Minister David Burch addressed the BPSU and reiterated the PLP Government's commitment to putting Bermuda and Bermudians first. Minister Burch:

As the Minister responsible for Labour it is partly my responsibility to ensure that all qualified and available Bermudians are suitably employed. I can tell you that the Department of Immigration will be looking at which industries need us to implement moratoriums on issuing new work permits. Presently the construction industry has my focus and attention.

Meaning, that Work Permit applications for the construction industry are given special attention. All new and renewal applications are personally seen by me.

Construction firms applying for work permits for electricians and plumbers will find some delay in their approval. I am prepared to look in every nook and cranny for a Bermudian before approving a work permit for a tradesman when there is an unemployed, or under employed, Bermudian.

But I need your assistance during this process. If I do not know that you are unemployed and looking for work I cannot tell the contractor where to find you.

Please encourage your family and friends to register with the Department of Labour and Training...

The Immigration Department will be looking closely at applicants made redundant applying to reside and seek alternative employment. It appears that some persons who have worked in Bermuda for a number of years have sent all their money back home and don’t have money to repatriate themselves. Persons looking for alternative employment after redundancy are directly competing with Bermudians in a contracted market. Clearly, if all their money is back home; then someone back home needs to wire some back to Bermuda so they can purchase a ticket home. Now employers must give an undertaking to repatriate their guest workers and we will be enforcing this policy.

Let me be clear, before giving any permission for foreign workers to reside and seek alternative employment, (and permission will be jealously given) they will have to demonstrate that they possess the financial means to repatriate themselves if they should not find employment in the allotted time period.

It is always my priority to ensure that Bermudians remain employed but it is even more so during these tough economic times.

The PLP Government has the utmost respect for our guest workers and the service they provide to our people and our economy. But, the PLP Government also has a fundamental obligation to making sure that Bermuda and Bermudians make it through these tough economic times. That's why Minister Burch and the rest of the PLP Government Team are taking proactive steps toward ensuring that Bermudians continue to have opportunities in today's tough economic climate.