The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted “deep-rooted inequities and gaps in our country’s social safety net”, the president of the Bermuda Public Services Union said tonight.

Armell Thomas, speaking on the eve of International Workers’ Day, asked the Government to introduce “urgent, targeted and flexible measures to support workers”.

He said this year’s worldwide commemoration of workers came with a heightened awareness of the “fragility” of rights that had taken the labour movement years to secure.

Mr Thomas added the Government reported ten days ago that more than 9,100 applications for unemployment benefits had been made - a “staggering’ 27 per cent of the island’s 33,180-strong workforce.

He said: “Even more sobering, it is acknowledged that not all those without work due to the pandemic have applied for the benefit, and as a result, the number of unemployed is most likely higher.”

The International Labour Organisation said earlier this week that shutdown restrictions to contain the pandemic were expected to create a 10.5 per cent drop in working hours worldwide in the second quarter of 2020.

Mr Thomas added that Bermuda’s recovery would rely on the rest of the world.

He said: “It is vital our social protection system be reviewed, revamped and properly resourced.

“It is time for a national discussion around the implementation of unemployment insurance.

“Measures to recover Bermuda’s economy must follow a job-centric approach and be backed with stronger employment policies.

“All stimulus packages and debt relief measures must be directly linked to employment and income protection as both are critical to making recovery effective and sustainable.”

Mr Thomas added that trades unions would play a vital role in the crisis as individual organisations, as well as under the umbrella of the Bermuda Trade Union Congress.

He said a “significant” number of labour victories, from sick leave to the right to organise, could end up “rolled back, watered down or lost with disastrous consequences if we fail to remain strong, progressive and proactive”.

He thanked workers on the front line for keeping essential services running, while others worked from from home.

Mr Thomas added Bermuda would need the combined efforts of workers, Government, businesses and the third sector to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic.

He said: “Together we have an opportunity to build a more equitable society and resilient local economy.”