Companies that fail to adhere to the ruling of the Employment Rights Tribunal (ERT), refusing to pay employees the sums adjudged to be owed are being put on notice that government is not prepared to tolerate this behaviour for much longer.
This warning came from Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, who said government was currently working on amendments to the Employment Rights Act, noting that among the proposals for consideration were powers of enforcement for the ERT, as well as the addition of interest on outstanding payments.
Jordan’s comments came against the backdrop of concerns raised yesterday by chairman of the ERT, Justice Christopher Blackman, who disclosed that companies within a “particular sector” were wantonly refusing to pay sums awarded to employees who were wrongfully dismissed.
The minister also revealed that apart from the possible legal ramifications, these companies would also be running the risk of being blacklisted from bidding for Government contracts.