employers to break down racial data on hiring, training, promoting, firing By Mairi Mallon The introduction of equal opportunity legislation to the workplace in Bermuda will help rather than hinder international business on the Island, a Government minister claimed.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister, speaking exclusively to The Royal Gazette after a power breakfast with top business executives on Wednesday, said that big business had nothing to fear from the new legislation which is to be introduced later this month.

The new law will affect all businesses with over 10 employees -- 157 companies -- who employ 80 percent of the population.

"The intention of the Committee for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) is to provide equal opportunity for all, and I believe it will help rather than hinder international business,'' said Mr. Lister.

Companies will now have to break down racial data on recruitment, training, promotion, transfers and dismissals.

This information will then be collected by the government and processed. Each business' performance in racial make-up will be compared to their peers.

He said, however, that no company would be made to take on underqualified staff to make up racial quotas and that explanations like a lack of trained staff would be taken into consideration.

"The purpose will be to assist businesses to examine employment practices in Bermuda with particular attention given to race dynamics.'' He said that 20 percent of the Island's jobs were taken by ex-patriates and added under the new scheme: "That should not change.'' Mr. Lister said that the programme's aims were to promote racial harmony and promote disadvantaged groups within the workplace.

At the power breakfast hosted by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday Mr. Lister spoke to 70 employers, chief executives and personnel managers about what the new legislation would mean.

`Big business nothing to fear from new CURE law' He said that a survey conducted by his department in May found that the majority did not have written policies on racial harassment, did not provide specific equal opportunity training and did not have equal opportunities covering recruitment or hiring practices.

He said: "The Government continues to hold the view that solving the problem of racial discrimination in employment is too important an issue to be left to voluntary compliance. Instead it requires strong but fair legislation.

"The amendments to the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality Act 1994 will therefore mandate monitoring as enforceable by law. The amendments will be introduced in time to have them take effect by March 1, 2000 which will mark the commencement of the first formal monitoring process to ensure the effective implementation of equal opportunity practices in Bermuda.'' In looking at the composition of the work force by race Mr. Lister said: "Here we will examine the composition of the work force along industry lines and in terms of the management and non-management sectors. This is important to see the work force composition, at all levels, reflect the racial demographics in Bermuda.

"In the analysis of work force flows, this area covers persons as they move through the company and involves the following areas -applicants and appointees, promotions, those who leave or are made redundant. In this regard monitoring will be able to identify any trends, which may exist in any of these areas.

"If any area has a demographic profile that differs widely from the total population this may be something CURE may want to examine more closely.'' He added that the way staff are recruited and promoted will be put under scrutiny. "Monitoring will allow us to identify common practices in the selection and promotion of staff.

"It will also allow us to examine the management training policies and those dealing with employees who are fired, resign or are made redundant.'' At the beginning of November the Government announced in the Throne speech the mandatory monitoring of firms' race policies. This will be made into law later this month when an act is passed in Parliament.

Curing racism: Sharol Simmons, executive officer of CURE, the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality, and Terry Lister, Minister of Development and Opportunity at a power breakfast held by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce at which the new equal opportunity legislation was discussed.

BUSINESS BUC