Restaurants & Nightclubs Division
 The
Restaurant and Nightclub Committee has concentrated on achieving a greater
interaction between its members in addressing critical issues facing
the sector. After surveying their members, the Committee agreed to focus
on the issues of:
- Immigration policies
- Government taxation requirements, customs tariff review
- The need to increase public awareness in the hospitality
industry through the introduction of training initiatives and internships.
Issues/Projects:
- Immigration Issues: It has been the Divisions long
held belief that it takes far too long to process full time work permits.
Many members have expressed unhappiness with the current system however
the Dept. of Immigration has stressed on numerous occasions that one
of the major reasons for the back log was that a select few were still
submitting incomplete or incorrect applications. The Division is also
looking for clarification from the Dept. in reference to scarce job
categories and key personnel as it relates to 6 year work permit terms
limits, a policy which will see implementation in April 2007. It has
been suggested that restaurateurs should apply for good corporate citizenship
status which may then afford them the opportunity to have their applications
treated separately e.g. exemptions for key personnel. Part of the “Good
Corporate Citizen” (GCC) designation involves posting full
employment ads on a quarterly basis. It has been noted however that
GCC status does not apply to small businesses, a category which most
restaurants fall under, so the Division is seeking exemption.
- Overtime: The Division waged an effective campaign
on a section of the act which pertained to O/T, and the act was repealed.
The Chairman however has since been informed that Government intends
to push the legislation through. The Chamber of Commerce has teamed
up with the Bermuda Employer’s Council (BEC) and formed a Sub
Committee, of which the Chairman is a part. Ideally the restaurateurs
would like to be exempt from the O/T legislation, as is the case with
many jurisdictions, particularly the U.S.A. They would like the Minister
to take into consideration the nature and hours of their operation,
and if he does not see fit to exempt them, as is within his discretionary
powers, then to increase the number of hours to approximately 55+
before O/T comes in to effect. The Minister has already stated that
he will not allow for extra work permits and it is the restaurateurs
concern that this new legislation will affect the employees the most.
The Division has formed a sub Committee to meet with the Minister to
make another submission on the issue.
- Entertainment Issues: Members that have live entertainment
have made it very clear through a survey that they feel the new policies
in regard to entertainment are unfair and discriminatory to them
as Bermudian restaurant owners. Their submission to the Minister of
Labour & Home
Affairs has been that the current Work Permit Policies concerning foreign
entertainers as they relate to restaurants and pubs are untenable.
Stuart Hayward was commissioned by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs
to conduct a survey on the current “entertainment issue.” The
intent of the survey was to highlight the strengths and the weaknesses
of the industry, as it currently exists, with the goal to offer sound
recommendations to the Minister. Early this year Mr. Hayward reported
his findings to the membership and the Chairman of the Restaurant
Division now sits on the newly formed Entertainment Task Force.
- Restaurant
Concessions & Rate Reductions: The Division
has been successful in lobbying Government for duty concessions on
any fixtures required for major restaurant renovations through
to 2010. They have also secured Amex rate reductions for the
majority of their members.
Contact Information:
Philip Barnett
Chairman RD
Tel:295-3648
Fax: 295-6291
e-mail: pickledhogfish@cwbda.bm
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