THE Department of Labour, of the Ministry of Social Protection (MSP), has concluded investigating 23 labour-related complaints, and has secured some $664,000 in either wages earned or severance pay owed to workers, Minister Keith Scott, the minister within the MSP who has responsibility for labour matters, has said.Those cases were settled between October 14th and 20th last, Scott told the Government Information Agency in an interview. He said that of the remaining 270 complaints, 26 have received part-payment; 143 are pending matters; 82 are before the courts, and 19 are being prepared for courts.

Disclosing that 293 complaints had been brought forward from the period before October 14, and nine new complaints were received during the period under consideration, Minister Scott said he is satisfied with what the Department of Labour has thus far accomplished for workers.

“We are on the ball, and we have been successful in taking employers to court; but not only taking them to court, but recovering (sums of money) that are due to workers,” the minister said.

Scott said the Labour Department is aware of transgressions that take place in the busy commercial area of Regent Street, and labour officers have met with store employers and employees to address those matters.

Employers who are guilty of transgressing labour laws are now seeking out-of-court settlements with the wronged employees, he disclosed.

Scott said the Labour Tripartite Committee comprising Government, private sector and trade unions is meeting regularly, and discussions have started on the need to revise the Labour Act. “Most likely in 2017, you will be seeing a fresh set of laws that will be bought more in line with national and international practice,” Scott said.

The minister noted that the MSP and the Labour Department would both continue to fight for workers’ rights and to ensure that they enjoy “the good life” which Government has promised.