By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Labour Department's Industrial Relations Unit has enjoyed an 89 per cent success rate in resolving trade disputes over the past 12 months, a Cabinet Minister said yestrerday.

Dion Foulkes, minister of labour, told the Senate during his contribution to the 2017-2018 Budget debate that the Industrial Relations Unit was charged with helping to settle all trade disputes in the Bahamas.

"Over the past 12 months, the unit has enjoyed an 89 per cent success rate in resolving trade disputes filed," he said. "Out of 2,349 disputes filed, 1,951 were successfully resolved.

"Additionally, public officers assigned to this unit are faced with members of the public that walk into our offices seeking advice, of which 94 per cent have been resolved without the filing of a trade dispute. This high success rate is a testament to the experience and skill of officers assigned to the unit, and highlights the tremendous effort of the staff and department to contributing to a smooth and stable industrial relations environment in the country."

Mr Foulkes added that the Minnis administration has pledged to remove the redundancy cap of 12 years for workers' compensation. "In this term in office we pledge to move the redundancy cap of 12 years for workers' compensation, and institute a new cap after consultation with the Tripartite Council," he said.

At present, line staff remain entitled to a maximum 24 weeks or six months' redundancy pay, gaining two weeks for each year they have been employed up to the 12-year 'cap'. Managers remain at a maximum of 48 weeks, or one month for every year worked up to 12 years. The redundancy cap was a key contention between employers and the the trade unions when Employment Act reforms were introduced earlier this year under the Christie administration.

Mr Foulkes said the Government would also work with trade unions and employers to establish a redundancy fund, and empower the Industrial Tribunal to enforce its own decisions.

He reiterated that no labour certificates would be issued unless the Labour Department was confident there are no available Bahamians who meet the requirements for a specific job.