construction industry reels from the recession.

And bosses warn more job losses are in the pipeline without a dramatic economic recovery.

Sea-Land Construction Ltd. will wield the axe this Friday. It will fall on 13 hourly workers, involved in carpentry, masonry and labouring.

Two salaried employees -- a carpentry foreman and a masonry foreman -- will also be laid off. They were taken on just before Christmas.

The 15, who were given notice last Friday, are among a large number of Sea-Land Construction employees working on Bermuda's new prison.

Many sub-contractors are also involved in the 30-month contract, which has just passed the half-way stage.

Last night Mr. Andrew Cooper, president of Sea-Land, said lay-offs were inevitable as the project progressed and the recession continued.

"This is the worst ever period for the construction industry in my experience,'' said Mr. Cooper. "The future looks bleak. It is absolutely inevitable there will be more lay-offs.'' Mr. Cooper, in the building industry since 1963, said the lay-offs were unconnected with the national strike, which badly disrupted the prison project. It is estimated walkouts by employees cost the firm up to $15,000.

Last night Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP, president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, said he would be trying to minimise the number of lay-offs. He accepted, however, jobs losses were inevitable in the industry.