The Ministry for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations is on track to fill 20 of the 45 vacancies previously unoccupied.
Minister Agni Deo Singh said this during a review of the ministry’s annual reports for 2016/2017, and 2017/2018.
He said they inherited a ministry which had 25 per cent vacant positions which needed to be filled. “We have now filled, out of the 45 that were vacant, 25 and the other 20 have been advertised and they are in the process of being filled,” he said.
“During that period, there were also 53 resignations. That is 26.5 per cent of the total workforce in the ministry.
“We have also reorganised the tripartite boards according to ILO 144 and employers and workers are now being fully consulted and the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) is in place.”
Mr Singh said collective bargaining was now “well and alive”, with both workers and employers coming together. He said workers now had the right to strike ballots, and several unions had already taken strike ballots.
“We have then intervened and brought them to the table for free discussions, dialogue in good faith and we have been able to resolve all those differences that existed.
“It is hurting, I know it is hurting. You failed to do what you are supposed to do, and it is hurting now.
“Good faith was totally missing in their days. There was nothing like good faith.
“The State being the worst employer, and it cascaded down to those other employers who wanted to take advantage and they did take advantage by treating workers unfairly in those days and all that is now a thing of the past.”
Mr Singh also extended his thanks to the Attorney-General for assisting the ministry and the Solicitor-General for their assistance in drafting of Bills.
In addition, Mr Singh said the International Labour Organization (ILO) provided a legal drafter to assist the ministry with the entire Employment Relations Act (ERA).
This is expected to be completed by January next year and tabled in the next Parliament session.
