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                                                                    Exhibit 10.3

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT, is made as of this 1st day of November, 1998, by and
between BOWATER INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation having a mailing address of
55 East Camperdown Way, Greenville, South Carolina 29601 (the "Corporation"),
and Jerry R. Gilmore, 1219 Shadow Way, Greenville, SC 29615 (the "Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to employ the Executive as Vice
President, US and Korean Newsprint Operations of the Newsprint and Directory
Division, as of the date hereof, and additionally, as of January 27, 1999, as
Vice President of Bowater Incorporated, and

         WHEREAS, the Executive is desirous of serving the Corporation in such
capacities;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:


         1. Employment. During the term of this Agreement the Corporation agrees
to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to continue in the
employ of the Corporation, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of
this Agreement.


         2. Term.

                  (a)      Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs (b) and
                           (c) of this Section 2, the term of this Agreement
                           shall begin on the Date hereof and shall continue
                           thereafter until terminated by either party by
                           written notice given to the other party at least
                           thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of any
                           such termination. The effective date of the
                           termination shall be the date stated in such notice,
                           provided that if the Corporation specifies an
                           effective date that is more than thirty (30) days
                           following the date of such notice, the Executive may,
                           upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the
                           Corporation, accelerate the effective date of such
                           termination.

                  (b)      Notwithstanding Section 2(a), upon the occurrence of
                           a Change in Control as defined in the Change in
                           Control Agreement between the Corporation and the
                           Executive (the "Change in Control Agreement"), the
                           term of this Agreement shall be deemed to continue
                           until terminated, but in any event, for a period of
                           not less than three (3) years following the date of
                           the Change in Control, unless such termination shall
                           be at the Executive's election for other than "Good
                           Reason" as that term is defined in the Change in
                           Control Agreement.



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                  (c)      Notwithstanding Section 2(a), the term of this
                           Agreement shall end upon:

                           (i)      the death of the Executive;

                           (ii)     the inability of the Executive to perform
                                    his duties properly, whether by reason of
                                    ill-health, accident or other cause, for a
                                    period of one hundred and eighty (180)
                                    consecutive days or for periods totaling one
                                    hundred and eighty (180) days occurring
                                    within any twelve (12) consecutive calendar
                                    months; or

                           (iii)    the executive's retirement on his early or
                                    normal retirement date.


         3. Position and Duties. Throughout the term hereof, the Executive shall
be employed as Vice President, US and Korean Newsprint Operations of the
Newsprint and Directory Division (Salary Grade 34) and, as of January 27, 1999,
as Vice President of Bowater Incorporated (Salary Grade 35), with the duties and
responsibilities customarily attendant to those offices, provided that the
Executive shall undertake such other and further assignments and
responsibilities of at least comparable status as the Board of Directors may
direct. The Executive shall diligently and faithfully devote his full working
time and best efforts to the performance of the services under this Agreement
and to the furtherance of the best interests of the Corporation.


         4. Place of Employment. The Executive will be employed at the corporate
offices in the City of Greenville, South Carolina or at such other place as the
Corporation shall designate from time to time, provided, however, that if the
Executive is transferred to another place of employment, necessitating a change
in his residence, the Executive shall be entitled to financial assistance in
accordance with the terms of the Corporation's relocation policy then in effect.


         5. Compensation and Benefits.

                  (a)      Base Salary. The Corporation shall pay to the
                           Executive a base salary of US $253,000 as of the date
                           hereof and then, as of January 1, 1999, US $275,000,
                           payable in substantially equal periodic installments
                           on the Corporation's regular payroll dates. The
                           Executive's base salary shall be reviewed at least
                           annually and from time to time may be increased (or
                           reduced, if such reduction is effected pursuant to
                           across-the-board salary reductions similarly
                           affecting all management personnel of the
                           Corporation).

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                  (b)      Bonus Plan. In addition to his base salary, the
                           Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus under
                           the Corporation's bonus plan in effect from time to
                           time determined in the manner, at the time, and in
                           the amounts set forth under such plan.

                  (c)      Benefit Plans. The Corporation shall make
                           contributions on the Executive's behalf to the
                           various benefit plans and programs of the Corporation
                           in which the Executive is eligible to participate in
                           accordance with the provisions thereof as in effect
                           from time to time.

                  (d)      Vacations. The Executive shall be entitled to paid
                           vacation, in keeping with the Corporate policy as in
                           effect from time to time, to be taken at such time or
                           times as may be approved by the Corporation.

                  (e)      Expenses. The Corporation shall reimburse the
                           Executive for all reasonable expenses properly
                           incurred, and appropriately documented, by the
                           Executive in connection with the business of the
                           Corporation.

                  (f)      Perquisites. The Corporation shall make available to
                           the Executive all perquisites to which he is entitled
                           by virtue of his position.


         6. Nondisclosure. During and after the term of this Agreement, the
Executive shall not, without the written consent of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, disclose or use directly or indirectly, (except in the course
of employment hereunder and in furtherance of the business of the Corporation or
any of its subsidiaries and affiliates) any of the trade secrets or other
confidential information or proprietary data of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries or affiliates; provided, however, that confidential information
shall not include any information known generally to the public (other than as a
result of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive) or any information of a type
not otherwise considered confidential by persons engaged in the same or similar
businesses.


         7. Noncompetition. During the term of this Agreement, and for a period
of one (1) year after the date the Executive's employment terminates, the
Executive shall not, without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation in the same or a similar capacity engage in or invest in, or aid or
assist anyone else in the conduct of any business (other than the businesses of
the Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates) which directly competes
with the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates as
conducted during the term hereof. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall
determine that any of the provisions of this Section 7 shall not be enforceable
because of the duration or scope thereof, the parties hereto agree that said
court shall have the power to reduce the duration and scope of such provision to
the extent necessary to make it enforceable and this Agreement in its reduced
form shall be valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. The
Executive acknowledges that the 



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Corporation's remedy at law for a breach by the Executive of the provisions of
this Section 7 will be inadequate. Accordingly, in the event of the breach or
threatened breach by the Executive of this Section 7, the Corporation shall be
entitled to injunctive relief in addition to any other remedy it may have.

         8. Severance Pay. If the Executive's employment hereunder is
involuntarily terminated for any reason other than those set forth in Section
2(c) hereof, then unless the Corporation shall have terminated the Executive for
"Cause", the Corporation shall pay the Executive severance pay in an amount
equal to twenty-four (24) months of the Executive's base salary on the effective
date of the termination, plus 1/12 of the amount of the last bonus paid to the
Executive under the Corporation's bonus plan applicable to the Executive for
each month in the period beginning on January 1 of the year in which the date of
the termination occurs and ending on the date of the termination and for each
months' base salary to which the Executive is entitled under this Section 8,
provided, however, that any amount paid to the Executive by the Corporation for
services rendered subsequent to the thirtieth (30th) day following the
communication to the Executive of notice of termination shall be deducted from
the severance pay otherwise due hereunder. Such payment shall be made in a lump
sum within ten (10) business days following the effective date of the
termination. The severance pay shall be in lieu of all other compensation or
payments of any kind relating to the termination of the Executive's employment
hereunder; provided that the Executive's entitlement to compensation or payments
under the Corporation's retirement plans, stock option or incentive plans,
savings plans or bonus plans attributable to service rendered prior to the
effective date of the termination shall not be affected by this clause and shall
continue to be governed by the applicable provisions of such plans; and further
provided that in lieu hereof, at his election, the Executive shall be entitled
to the benefits of the Change in Control Agreement between the Corporation and
the Executive, if termination occurs in a manner and at a time when such Change
in Control Agreement is applicable. For purposes of this Agreement, the term for
"Cause" shall mean because of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the
Executive either in the course of his employment hereunder or which has a
material adverse effect on the Corporation or the Executive's ability to perform
adequately and effectively his duties hereunder.

         9. Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be given under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when
delivered or mailed, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested
to the respective addresses of the parties set forth above, or to such other
address as any party hereto shall designate to the other party in writing
pursuant to the terms of this Section 9.

         10. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and
the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision.

         11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted
in 



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accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware.


         12. Supersedure. This Agreement shall cancel and supersede all prior
agreements relating to employment between the Executive and the Corporation,
except the Change in Control Agreement.


         13. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by a party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
prior or subsequent breach by any of the parties hereto.


         14. Binding Effect. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Corporation and
the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the Executive, but this
Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Executive have executed
this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.


BOWATER INCORPORATED


By /s/ James T. Wright                               /s/ Jerry R. Gilmore
   -------------------------------------             ---------------------------
       James T. Wright                                   Jerry R. Gilmore
       Vice President - Human Resources


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