Minister David Burch is taking action to protect the health and safety of our guest workers and protect Bermuda's reputation. Minister Burch:

It is sad to say, but adult bullying is alive and well in Bermuda. It is clear that in the cases reported to date the abuse is mainly in the blue collar arena...

Today, I come to sound a warning! It pains me that once again the greatest offenders are Jamaican / Bermudian employers.

Employers if you are not treating your employees – especially when they are your fellow Jamaicans, with the respect and dignity they deserve - check your behaviour now before you find yourselves in the hot seat.

I will not continue to issue work permits to offending companies so that they can continue to discriminate against their own countrymen. Especially since they don’t go home and report that ‘a Jamaican’ is treating them bad in Bermuda, no - the story back home is that they are being treated badly in Bermuda.

The bottom line is this: As a result of the complaints filed, 9 companies will not receive any further Work Permits until they have rectified their situations. In the case where Work Permits expire – they will not be renewed...

In fact, I am told that in Jamaica – Bermuda is referred to as ‘the last slave frontier’ because of how badly Jamaican workers are treated. Often times these acts are committed by Jamaican nationals against their own … but it is Bermuda that gets the bad rep.

Abuse and bullying will not be tolerated. And, the PLP Government is taking the steps necessary to ensure that workers and our reputation are protected.