Standing Up for Bermudian Workers: Fairness, Dignity, and Respect

Good morning, everyone.

Let’s talk about what’s really at stake here.

Let’s talk about what it means to be a Bermudian, in our own country, looking for a fair shot—only to be told, “No, not you.”

We have all seen it. We have all heard the stories.

A Bermudian applies for a job they are qualified for—with the experience, skills, and knowledge—only to be turned away. And who gets the job instead?

🔹 Someone from overseas, brought in on a work permit for the flimsiest of reasons.
🔹 Someone willing to accept less pay or worse conditions because they have no choice.

We have seen Bermudians pushed aside, not because they aren’t good enough, but because they won’t accept unfair wages or mistreatment.

We have also seen workers from overseas—many desperate for opportunity—being exploited, underpaid, and mistreated. These are jobs that Bermudians won’t take, not because we don’t want to work, but because no one should be forced to work under those conditions.

That is Not Fairness. That is Not Justice. That is Not Who We Are as a Country.

So let’s be clear:

🚫 We are not anti-foreigner.
🚫 We are not xenophobic.
🚫 We are not against people coming here to contribute to our country and our economy.

What we are against—what we will always fight against—is exploitation.

❌ We are against a system that rewards employers who bypass Bermudians for cheap labor.
❌ We are against a system that allows work permit holders to be abused, mistreated, and kept silent out of fear.
❌ We are against a system that benefits the powerful at the expense of the workers—Bermudian and non-Bermudian alike.

Because Let’s Tell the Truth About What Happens When Employers Underpay Workers from Overseas:

💰 It drives down wages for everyone.
💰 It creates a race to the bottom.
💰 It hurts Bermudians trying to build a life here.

And let’s be real: This is not just about money. It is about dignity. It is about respect. It is about whether we, as Bermudians, are given a fair shot to thrive in our own country.

That is Exactly Why This Government Took Action.

For the first time in our history, we passed Bermuda’s first-ever minimum wage—because no Bermudian, and no worker, should be forced to work for wages that cannot sustain them.

✅ We strengthened workers’ rights and protections—because no worker should be subject to mistreatment, intimidation, or unfair conditions.
✅ We stood up to the powerful—because in our Bermuda, people come before profits.

This is Why Our Immigration and Labour Policies Matter.

When we talk about immigration, when we talk about work permits, when we talk about protecting Bermudian jobs—understand what we are fighting for:

💚 A Bermuda where workers—every worker—are treated fairly.
💚 A Bermuda where no one is forced to accept wages that cannot sustain them.
💚 A Bermuda where Bermudians are first in line for the opportunities we have earned.

To Those Who Want to Twist This Conversation—Those Who Pretend That Standing Up for Bermudians is Wrong or Divisive:

❌ No.

❌ What is wrong is looking at a Bermudian trying to provide for their family, and telling them, “You are not needed.”
❌ What is wrong is bringing in workers and treating them as if they are disposable.
❌ What is wrong is an immigration system that has, for too long, worked for employers and corporations—but not for the people.

Our Approach is Simple:

✅ We protect Bermudian jobs and opportunities—because Bermudians deserve to thrive in our own country.
✅ We stand against discrimination—because no one should be denied work simply because of where they are from or what they look like.
✅ We demand fairness for all workers—because no one should be underpaid, overworked, or mistreated just because they don’t have the power to say no.

That is Why We Fought for Bermuda’s First Minimum Wage.

That is Why We Strengthened Labour Protections.

That is Why We Will Always Fight for Bermudians to Get the Opportunities We Have Earned, Worked For, and Deserve.

And that is why, on February 18th, we must send a message that in this Bermuda, under this government, workers—Bermudian and non-Bermudian alike—will be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

Thank you.