permits to employees of foreign companies with contracts with Bermudian firms.

The Hon. Irving Pearman said such permit applications from overseas firms would be scrutinised carefully: "It will be necessary to satisfy that due process has been followed, and that the required service is not already available in Bermuda.'' Mr. Pearman urged people or firms in Bermuda to seek the advice of the Immigration Department -- if they wished to avoid disappointment.

The Minister spoke out in the House of Assembly yesterday.

He said several local businesses had formed contractual agreements with foreign companies. These firms assumed their staff would be allowed to operate in Bermuda.

But Mr. Pearman said such assumptions were false, and work permits would not be automatically granted.

Such applications would not even receive special treatment or consideration, he added.