A union leader yesterday welcomed the creation of a new labour department to help to safeguard workers’ rights.

Chris Furbert, the head of the Bermuda Industrial Union, said: “Anything that will help to improve the rights of organised labour is going to be something that the BIU will support.

“Members have felt over the years that there are laws on the books that should be for everyone and felt, even though they should be for employers, they were more directed at employees and unions.

“We’re now going to have a vehicle that’s going to make sure that the laws are going to be fair across the board, but more importantly that workers’ rights are going to be protected.”

Mr Furbert was speaking after Tom Oppenheim, the Deputy Governor, announced the creation of a Department of Labour in the Throne Speech yesterday.

The department would make sure that workers’ rights were protected and that employers adhered to labour regulations.

Mr Oppenheim said: “Workers must be protected and industrial relations within the economy will be enhanced by certainty and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of all parties.”

Mr Furbert said that he would like to see the department form before predicting what it could do to the Government’s relationship with the unions.

But he added that he would like to see a “better industrial relations climate” come out of the department.

He explained: “That will relate to the laws that are on the books, and will not just apply to unions but also apply to employers.”

Mr Oppenheim also confirmed that an order of minimum hourly wage will be tabled in the coming months.