$13M for employees treated unfairly recovered by Labour ministry

Some $13M owed to employees for 2022, in wages, annual leave, overtime and severance payments has been recovered by the Labour Ministry to date.

The ministry revealed that at present they have over 300 cases at the litigation stage, most of which stemmed from complaints made against private security companies. Minister, Joseph Hamilton, in a media interview stressed that most of these companies refused to formally terminate their employees to avoid paying their remuneration as stipulated in Chapter 96:01 of the termination of employment and severance pay Act.

Hamilton said that this action by the companies, is not only a clear disregard for the country’s labour laws, but for the employees, as well.

Minister Hamilton nooted firmly that the ministry will not allow such acts to continue. “People will have to be paid their monies and sometimes, I intervene in these matters, and I say that you have two choices; either pay or I call the press conference to decide and that has worked so far,” he said.

The minister disclosed that since assuming office in August 2020, the government has taken several steps to ensure the rights of workers are protected. This, he said, includes sensitisation workshops with companies, where the country’s labour laws, in relation to workers’ rights and other aspects, were addressed.

Hamilton declared that his ministry will be taking a more aggressive approach towards non-compliant companies including public exposure of delinquent actions.

“As a forewarning, very shortly I will release a press release, based on information we have on companies that have outstanding monies for their workers and other companies. And I will list the name of the company, I will list the owners of the companies and directors and all of them who they owe and what they owe,” he said.

Minister Hamilton revealed that in 2021, the ministry was able to recover $38.2M, on behalf of workers, from employers, who breached the labour laws.