We should not be exploiting European migrant workers to fulfil the needs of the island’s hotels.

That’s the view of union leader Eric Holmes after the Department of Economic Development announced it was relaxing work permit restrictions in the hospitality industry.

The exemptions will be for the summer season only, from March 1 to October 31, and employees will have to have a minimum of 12 months’ work experience in the sector.

DED Minister Laurence Skelly said the industry had been struggling to recruit the number of staff it needed for the holiday season.

But Mr Holmes, who is regional officer for the Unite union, claimed the DED is condoning the exploitation of migrant workers.

He said: ’It’s just a "try before you buy" six month period of exploitation of European migrant workers being used to fill roles not seen as fit for local workers to want to work in.

’Rather than urging the sector to shed its historically poor image of long hours and poor conditions for its staff, this move actually condones the practice as being acceptable.’

He added: ’What provisions are being made for health coverage while these workers are here, especially now the links to Europe are under threat?

’Why is it felt acceptable within the business sector to promote this filling of locally unattractive posts with European migrants as an alternative to uprating the terms and conditions they are employed under by the sector?’

The Celtic League’s Bernard Moffatt has branded the move as a ’disgusting betrayal of Manx workers via the demolition of Control of Employment legislation’.

DED member Rob Callister insisted the critics have got it wrong.

He said: ’Full-time and part-time Manx workers will still be protected and the minimum wage legislation protects the level of salary being paid to all workers.’

Mr Callister said the move had nothing to do with pressure from the Chamber of Commerce but had come from meetings he’d had with the hotel industry.

He added: ’Without this important initiative and without this intervention the vast majority of hotels around the island would be short of quality and experienced staff this season.

’DED officers will also continue to monitor the process throughout the season.’