[lg policy] Bermuda: Language policy starts tomorrow

[Harold Schiffman]

Language policy starts tomorrow

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By Amanda Dale

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Foreign workers without adequate English will be deported from tomorrow.





Employers will have to ensure guest workers can communicate
effectively, or face the costs of kicking them off the Island.

Government's Work Permit Holders' Competency with the English Language
Policy comes into effect from April 1.

The measure follows extensive consultation over the past year with
"relevant stakeholders", none of whom objected, according to
Immigration Minister David Burch.

"The issue of guest workers in the various sectors of the workforce
who have difficulty understanding basic English has for many years
often been a vexing topic amongst locals and residents alike," said
Senator Burch.

"While it is appreciated that employers in a number of industries are
finding it more and more difficult to recruit from English-speaking
countries, it is unacceptable to have foreigners serving persons,
whether it is in a restaurant, a hotel or a rest home, who cannot
communicate effectively in English.

"Further, a lack of competence in English is dangerous in a job where
one has to also read prescriptions or the labels of dangerous
chemicals."

The Minister said anyone coming to work "in an English-speaking
country" should expect to have to speak English.

"If an English-speaking person landed in France and wandered around
expecting everyone to speak English, they're not going to have a good
time," he said.

Giving a personal example, Sen. Burch said he recently ordered a meal
at a restaurant but received the wrong food because, "the waitress
didn't understand what I said and I didn't understand what she said".

He added that since the national certificate for electricians was
introduced on December 31, some people had been unable to pass the
English test for the qualification.

"A firm says they are sending two of their electricians home as their
competence in the English language is insufficient for them to pass
the test," he said. "If I'm an electrician and coming to your house
and can't speak English, how can I understand your problem and how to
fix it?"

In another example, Sen. Burch said a hotel had also been forced to
send two guest workers home within two days of their arrival last
year, because they did not understand English.

He said: "The onus will be on each employer to make their own internal
arrangements for determining whether the person complies with the work
permit condition with respect to English competency."

Guidelines are available on the Government website.

If the Department of Immigration receives a complaint then the
employee will be brought in to sit an English language test.

"If the person cannot understand and speak English, then the employer
will be advised that the work permit is being rescinded and the person
will be returned to their place of origin," said the Minister.

Although it was not expected guest workers should be able to speak
"flawless English", they should be understood by "most residents who
visit their establishment", he said.

 http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7da3fa730030034&sectionId=60



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