Government will start thrashing out the details of its controversial work permit term limits with business leaders on Monday after stressing there will be no change in policy.

Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton stressed Government will do nothing to jeopardise business but it had to ensure it did not create more long term residents.

The policy, as reiterated by Mr. Horton at a Press conference yesterday, limits work permits in most cases to six year limits.

Employers able to justify a genuine and compelling need can get work permit extensions to nine years. Term restrictions do not apply to "key employees" who must have one of seven criteria.

Yesterday M r. Horton said: "There have been reports that Government's policy with respect to work permit term limits was likely to have a negative impact upon Bermuda's business community, the international business community in particular.

"I have invited you here this afternoon to state categorically that this Government will do nothing that will jeopardise the continuing success of business in Bermuda, whether it be international company business or local company business

Asked if Government was simply creating a revolving door of expatriates considering that there were 8,000 more jobs than there were Bermudians Mr. Horton said: "We don't want to again have a situation where Bermuda is encouraging long term residents.

"What the policy does is help to encourage companies to provide the level of training necessary to help get Bermudians in those areas."

And he played down the extent of numbers of people who would want exemptions.

Immigration figures show that on average 50 percent of expatriates return home within three years and within six years a further 25 percent have left.

After nine years another 12.5 percent leave. This means that, after nine years 1,000 out of an average figure of 8,000 work permit holders would still be on the Island.

Mr. Horton stressed small local businesses would be given just as much consideration for key employee exemptions as the likes of XL and ACE.

Quoting the original policy document from March 2001, Mr. Horton said that key employees could be found at all levels of a business and not just among CEOs, CFOs and senior managers. They can include technical, professional, clerical and service staff. Each employer must make a case.

But Mr. Horton said: "Let me reiterate. The vast majority of our guest workers will not fall in the "key" category. They will be required to leave Bermuda after six or nine years."

He said debates on long-term residents three years ago had shown Bermudians did not want another build up of long-term residents and term limits would reduce that risk. But it would be altogether irresponsible to apply term limits indiscriminately.

"If the Government required every work permit holder in a company to leave after the term limit maximum, then when the time comes for a head of an international company to leave Bermuda, the company would naturally leave with him or her. The company would simply relocate.

"This Government would never allow that to happen. This Government recognises and appreciates the tremendous contribution that international businesses have made to the successes that Bermuda has enjoyed.

"This Government recognises and appreciates the outstanding contribution made by most of our work permit holders.

"Consequently we will continue to seek input from relevant stakeholders regarding our work permit policies."

Mr. Horton said he would be meeting with major business organisations in the International Business Forum on Monday to continue talks started by previous Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister.

A strategy would be developed to explain in detail how term limit exemptions will be applied said Mr. Horton.

"I can assure everyone that the ways in which term limits are applied will be done in the best interest of Bermudians and in Bermuda's national interest."

Mr. Horton said companies who were deemed good corporate citizens, i.e. played by the Government's rules on other matters, would be at an advantage when seeking term limit exemptions.

"There's certainly a link, yes," said the Minister.

He said people could sign a voluntary waiver agreeing they had no rights to become long-term residents to improve their chances of staying beyond the nine years. But he said if they weren't deemed "key" then nine years would be the end anyway.