in their care has mothers asking why? Jennifer Flood, 27, has voiced her disapproval after being told by Immigration that she and three other mothers must each apply for a work permit to have their child taken care of by a non-Bermudian.

Under those guidelines, a child minder who is allowed to look after four children would need four separate work permits.

Under the new rules, each mother wanting to use the services of a non-Bermudian child minder would have to first advertise in the paper, for a cost of about $160, then apply for and pay for a work permit, which costs $532.

Mrs. Flood said that many mothers with young children are in their twenties and do not have hundreds of dollars to spend on advertising and work permits.

They also have to pay for the services of the child minder -- Mrs. Flood's child minder is paid $100 a week -- and between four mothers that totals about $20,000 a year.

With the new policy in place, about ten percent of the total, or more than $2,000 will have to be spent on permits.

Chief Immigration Officer, Dr. Martin Brewer said: "The old situation was a child minder could get a work permit to look after up to four children, but under the new policy, an employer must get a permit.''