Major employers have no plans to introduce at-work day care centres despite the success of Bermuda's first such scheme and long waiting lists for child-care.

BIU president Derrick Burgess said the failure to set up in-house child care, already widely operated in North America and Europe, meant parents often missed work, costing many large businesses a considerable sum.

"There is a definite need. You get a better employee if he or she knows that their children are in capable hands'', he said. "If the worker is worried about her children or about the cost of expensive child care centres, he or she will not be productive.'' Mr. Burgess said employees in industries which operated seven days a week, particularly tourism, were most affected because the chance of finding child care on weekends or at night was virtually nil.

Mr. Burgess praised insurance giant ACE Ltd's recent effort in expanding their programme -- set up two years ago for staff members -- and soon to accommodate 45 children.

ACE Ltd. Chairman Brian Duperreault agreed: "Taking away the stress parents face worrying about who is looking after their children helps them focus on their work and be more productive. I didn't launch this scheme with any idea of setting an example -- I did it because it is good for the company and good for our employees.'' Shadow Social Services Minister, Renee Webb, commended ACE for subsidising their centre.

She said commercial child care was expensive -- often $75 to $100 per week per child -- while demand continued to be great with long waiting lists.

Management at St. Brendan's and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where 1200 people work, are considering setting up a room to house sick children while their parents work, instead of a regular child-care facility.

Bank of Bermuda senior vice president, Mark Perreault, said cheap home loans and low medical insurance premiums appealed to more members of staff than a day-care centre.

Other major employers who have no immediate plans to set up day care facilities include the Marriott Castle Harbour Hotel, Sonasta Beach Hotel, Elbow Beach Hotel, the Princess Hotels, the Belmont Hotel, the Bank of Butterfield and insurance companies American International and J&H Marsh & McLennan.

Insurance company Exel Ltd. vice president, Gavin Arton, said they were actively considering setting up day care facilities for their new Bermudiana Road office, due to open in 2001.

Centre Solutions vice president, George Hutchings, said the company had not yet decided whether to set up a day care centre, but it was a possibility.