Labour Minister Randy Horton last night said Senate President Alf Oughton was parroting the employers' line in justifying why the Upper Chamber rejected Government's overtime bill.

Last week the Senate threw out a bill passed by the House requiring businesses to pay premium overtime rates to all non-professionals who do more than 40 hours a week.

Mr. Horton said he was obliged to respond to Senator Oughton's comments in Monday's .

"I am outraged that anyone as familiar with labour issues as Senator Oughton would stoop to parroting the line of some employers that my concern about protecting workers against overtime abuse is somehow due to the support of the BIU.

"The employers themselves have spoken with experts from the International Labour Organisation.

"They have learned directly that an overtime rate is considered a basic standard in promoting the dignity of workers.

"Overtime is neither a new, revolutionary nor a leading edge concept. It is enjoyed by all unionised employees in Bermuda.

"It is as basic a right as sick leave and holiday pay. Some employers in the non-unionised sector do the right thing and recognise overtime work either through time off in lieu, an overtime rate of pay or annual bonuses. These employers are to be commended for doing the right thing.

"It is unconscionable, shameful and frankly backwards that others should attempt to justify work of up to 60 and 70 hours per week with no overtime rate or time off in lieu.

"Bermuda, which touts itself as a world class economy, should be embarrassed."

He said comments by Senator Oughton, a former Belco boss, about Government inspectors needing to do more to investigate employee abuse were disingenuous at best.

"He knows and fully understands that the Department of Labour and Training cannot 'proactively pursue' inspections in the absence of specific complaints or suspicions of specific breach of the Employment Act.

"Excessive overtime work without overtime compensation contravenes international standards.

"However, because this provision is not yet mandatory in Bermuda, it is not yet a breach of our Act. Therefore, the Department of Labour and Training does not currently have the statutory authority to 'proactively' inspect the abuse of overtime work ? a practice that is, regrettably, widespread in certain sectors of our economy. Again, I ask ? do we or do we not value the dignity of our workers? When it comes to cutting costs, why should the value of their long and hard work be the first line of attack?"