$150M recovered by Labour Ministry for unpaid workers in recent years

In less than four years, the Ministry of Labour has recouped more than $150M owed to employees for salaries, annual leave, overtime payments and severance.

Speaking at his Brickdam, Georgetown office, Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton said that the monies were recovered at the conclusion of investigations into complaints lodged by workers.

“You have a labour related matter? The only people who can resolve it for you is the Ministry of Labour.

“…The person who is authorized – statutory, legally and constitutionally – to resolve your problem if you have a labour related matter, is the Chief Labour officer and his officers,” Hamilton said.

Since assuming office four years ago, Hamilton said his Ministry has been active more than ever before and the engagements continue.

“…you cannot put a price to the training that the labour department does free of cost across this country,” he said.

However, he reminded that the labour department can only investigate issues affecting workers if a formal report is filed.

“At the end of the day if we have a recalcitrant employer, we can take that person to court and when we do that, it cannot be ‘he say, she say, them say.’ We have to have evidence to present in front the Magistrate,” Hamilton noted.