Construction workers say their industry no longer offers a lifeline to Bermudian men who can't read or write.

They claim locals are being priced out of jobs by an influx of non-Bermudians prepared to live and work in extremely poor conditions, for very little pay.

And according to Pembroke MP Ashfield DeVent, many people believe the unions should have done more to confront the issue and protect workers.

One construction worker, who has been in the industry more than 20 years, told The Royal Gazette he has been unable to find work since April.

The man said he used to earn $45 an hour as a self-employed worker, and an average worker would get around $30 an hour. But many foreigners now do the same kind of work for $18 or $20 an hour. He said Government has allowed people "left, right and centre" to come to the Island.

"Construction has been a type of work for a lot of guys who couldn't read or write; it was a way out for them. But not any more," he said. "Government for years has allowed people to bring foreign people in. There are some workers that brought things on themselves, but at the same time we are not going to work for the same wage they are paying the foreign guys."

Mr. DeVent said: "I have been approached on numerous occasions by skilled construction workers who have found themselves pushed out of the industry."

Foreigners are said to be prepared to toil for little pay ten hours a day, seven days a week, before spending the evening crammed into bunk beds in overcrowded homes.

The lowest paid workers are said to be from the Philippines and Sri Lanka, although firms formerly known for recruiting Bermudians are now said to be hiring more regularly from the Caribbean and Azores.

"It's the cheap labour but it's also the control factor — the foreign staff don't complain," said the worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Everybody just takes advantage of everybody round here. A lot of them are badly treated but they are afraid to say anything. They accept a lot of garbage just to stay employed. Most Portuguese firms want to hire their own kind; most West Indians hire their own kind. The difference now is that Bermudian contractors don't hire Bermudians, they hire from Azores and the Caribbean."

Mr. DeVent says he's spoken to foreigners who earn as little as $5 an hour. He said the lowest paid workers are nannies, in the hospitality industry and in restaurants and spas.

Some people work 70-hour weeks but are paid for 40 hours, said the Progressive Labour Party backbencher.

"It's the age-old story: the foreign worker is under threat of having his work permit revoked. It's an issue we have to confront," he said.

"Some of them earn $5, $6, $7 or $8 an hour. That's really criminal. In the last ten years, we have seen a huge influx of foreign workers from the Far East who have been made to work for very small wages, in some cases under terrible conditions. They are hiring in bad conditions, they are treated badly."

Mr. DeVent said many believe the unions could have done more to confront the issue.

"The union's job is to protect all workers whether they are foreign or not," he said.

"People say maybe they should be applying greater pressure on Government. Their job is to protect workers and work conditions."

Launching a crackdown on firms that hire cheap foreign labourers last week, Immigration Minister David Burch said no work permits would be issued for cleaners, masons, carpenters or landscape gardeners without his direct approval.

He has ordered an investigation into the hiring practices of nine construction firms which failed to respond to a Bermudian master mason who applied for a job.

Mr. DeVent said: "I support Minister Burch outright. I think it's needed and some would argue that it's even too late."