makeup of companies, quotas will not be introduced.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister made this clear as he explained the new legislation on equal opportunity to a group of senior executives on the Island.

Mr. Lister added: "The Bermuda Government's ultimate goal is to see the workforce composition, at all levels, reflect the racial demographics in Bermuda.'' He said the Government was making businesses take a proactive approach to ensure fairness for all Bermudians and said this would be done by examining employment practices with a view to helping those sectors of the community which are currently under-represented.

He added that monitoring would take place in the 547 companies which have ten or more employees and employ 80 percent of the workforce. Government will require these companies to supply racial breakdowns on recruitment, training, promotion, transfers and dismissals.

"In sum it is a review and examination of all employment practices to ensure that there is no unlawful discrimination occurring in the workplace,'' said Mr. Lister.

See Business on Page 27 for more.