Termination, overtime payment among 750 complaints received by Labour Ministry last year

The Ministry of Labour received some 750 complaints last year from workers on issues ranging from termination and severance pay to payment of overtime and annual leave.

Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine Tuesday said 90 percent of the complains were resolved.

The figure, Deonarine said, reflects a “significant” reduction in complains when compared to the previous year.

“We have seen a significant reduction in the number of complains coming to the Ministry of Labour.

“We had just around 750 complaints…that’s the number of complaints we have received for 2024. We have managed to resolve at the end of 2024 approximately 90 percent,” Deonarine told the News Room on Tuesday.

The outstanding complaints, he said, were made late last year and would obviously take some time before they are investigated and concluded.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Labour held its second annual Labour Laws seminar at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

This year, Deonarine said 220 businesses, who employ some 30,000 workers altogether are participating.

“We think by having these engagements, meeting with employers, clarifying certain areas of laws, certain issues, is helping with general industrial relation and keeping peace and stability,” Deonarine said.

The focus of the seminar is to educate and inform employees and workers of their rights and obligations provided under the various pieces of legislation.

Participants are also given the opportunity to raise issues affecting them whether it is related to probationary period, termination, annual leave or wages.

This, Deonarine said will give the Ministry an indication of the areas which require more interest.

Over the past three years, the Ministry of Labour has hosted 20 seminars across the country.

This, Deonarine said is vital to ensure investors remains in the country in light of the rapid development.