Derrick Burgess, the Shadow Minister for Labour Relations, has alleged that the Government is allowing Bermudians to be passed over in favour of guest workers in the job market.

However, Home Affairs Minister Senator Michael Fahy maintained that the OBA is doing all in its power to get Bermudians back to work.

In a statement released this week, Mr Burgess said that, despite a number of “photo ops” by the OBA, Bermudians are still too frequently being turned down in favour of foreign workers.

“While we welcome improvements in the area of Workforce Development, reports of otherwise qualified Bermudians being passed over for employment are concerning,” Mr Burgess said.

He added that several cases have recently been brought to his attention. In one case, two Bermudians with decades of experience in their fields had been denied an interview with a hotel after “failing” an online test.

“Another case involved a Bermudian who, despite being eminently qualified to work here in Bermuda, was rejected repeatedly in favour of non-Bermudians and forced to secure employment in her field overseas,” Mr Burgess said. “At any time, Bermudians should come first in jobs and opportunities in our country and, with so many Bermudians out of work, we simply cannot accept Bermudians being denied the opportunity to even interview for posts in which they are qualified.

“While Minister Fahy poses for ‘photo ops’ and issues work permits without apology, qualified, capable, law-abiding Bermudians are being denied opportunities to compete for jobs in our own country.”

Sen Fahy responded to the comments yesterday, expressing “grave concerns” over Mr Burgess’s claims. He said that if Mr Burgess had any such information, he should make the specifics of those cases available to the Ministry of Immigration so that they can be addressed in the proper channels.

He said the Government is committed to helping Bermudians to find work, noting the creation of the Bermuda Job Board, an online employment database operated by the Department of Workforce Development.

“This Government is focused every day on creating opportunities for Bermudians and stimulating an environment in which business feels confident and moves to create jobs,” Sen Fahy said. “Our work permit policies are designed to help turn around the economy in ways that will benefit Bermudians directly and indirectly, and those comments made by Mr Burgess are disingenuous by implying that work permits are being issued without employers strictly adhering to the Department of Immigrations work permit requirements.

“Contrary to Mr Burgess’s remarks, I am not issuing work permits without apology. As a matter of fact, the public should be reminded that in 2013 the One Bermuda Alliance released the least amount of work permits.”

He also noted the recent announcement that the Department of Workforce Development and the Bermuda Industrial Union were working together to get unemployed Bermudians on the job board.

“This is not a photo opportunity, there will be no cameras,” Sen Fahy said. “This is simply an effort by the department to afford people the opportunity to sign up to the Job Board in the comfort of the BIU without prying eyes; something I am fully in support of.”