Shadow Immigration Minister Walton Brown has expressed his alarm at the “flagrant violation of immigration laws” by a company highlighted in an Ombudsman report.

The Ombudsman’s Annual Report for 2014, released last Friday, stated that the Department of Immigration refused to follow the advice of the Ombudsman following a Bermudian’s complaint about being overlooked for a job in favour of a work permit holder.

It also claimed that the Minister for Home Affairs declined the recommendations of the Department of Immigration to revoke the work permit related to the complaint.

Reacting today, the Progressive Labour Party responded by calling for Minister Michael Fahy “to take decisive action to correct the discriminatory treatment of a Bermudian job applicant and he has thus far refused to do so”.

Mr Brown stated in a press release: “Minister Fahy needs to demonstrate with his words and deeds that Bermudians will be treated fairly when applying for jobs; Minister Fahy needs to demonstrate that companies wilfully violating our immigration laws will face serious consequences.

“Minister Fahy needs to provide the public with an explanation regarding his refusal to take the considered advice of the Ombudsman. As the PLP spokesperson on such matters we want to hear from the Minister, we want to know which company is involved and we want to see that company placed on a restricted list as far as work permits grants are concerned.”