At the Ministry of Labour’s end-of-year media briefing, it was announced that a significant achievement was made in 2023, with the recovery of $69 million for workers who had faced unpaid wages.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton disclosed that the ministry received a total of 912 complaints from employees during the year, successfully resolving approximately 85% of these cases.
Efforts are ongoing to address the remaining 15% of complaints.
The recovered sum represents a substantial increase of 42% compared to the recovery amount in 2022.
Minister Hamilton, noting the need for more impactful measures, advocated for stiffer penalties to discourage employers from engaging in illegal and fraudulent labor practices.
He emphasized the ongoing collaborative efforts with the attorney general’s chambers to enhance the fines associated with labor violations.
In his statement, Minister Hamilton highlighted various issues investigated through the received complaints, including termination benefits, annual leave, unlawful salary deductions, and overtime payments.
Some of these matters, he mentioned, often lead to legal proceedings, with 32 cases filed in the magistrate’s court in 2023.
Out of these, 11 cases remain active, and judgments have been obtained for 21 cases.
The private security industry accounted for a significant number of complaints, prompting the Ministry to conduct seminars and interactions to address concerns within this sector.
As a result, the percentage of complaints from the private security industry decreased from 27% to 25% of all complaints.
Throughout the year, the Labour Department conducted 2,700 workplace inspections across all regions to ensure businesses and companies adhered to legal criteria governing working conditions.
These efforts underscore the Ministry’s commitment to enforcing labor laws and protecting the rights of workers in various industries.