Labour Standards is one of the core sections of the Ministry of Labour, structured under the Division of Planning, Manpower and Human Resource Development and directly supervised by the Assistant Minister for Labour Standards. The Division of Labour Standards is an embodiment of the Departments of Labour Relations, Legal Affairs, Workmen’s Compensation, Occupational Health and Safety and Inspectorate. It is charged with the responsibilities to regulate labour practices, employment standards, monitor and ensure full compliance with the Decent Work Act of 2015, provide legal representations for aggrieved indigent clients and settle disputes between employers and employees.

Additionally, the Division ensures that the health and safety of all persons in workplaces are fully protected and that all workers who are exposed to risks in their workplaces are guided by a functional health and safety policy. It reviews redundancy actions and ensure due diligence is done to all workers whose positions are made redundant for reasons under the law. Each department within the Division is supervised by a technical head i.e. Director, Solicitor or Inspector General.

Departments and Major Functions

Labour Relations
The Department of Labour Relations, headed by a Director/Hearing Officer is charged with the responsibilities to provide mediations/conciliations or compulsory arbitration and conduct formal hearings into labour disputes/cases. Hearing Officers at this department conduct pre-trial conferences in labour cases and further conduct hearings in cases where there are no meetings of the minds. The Hearing Officers preside over hearing of labour matters and are assisted by Clerks, who are custodians of the records of cases, and Sheriffs who serve Notices of Assignments on parties in labour cases.

Legal Affairs
The Department of Legal Affairs is charged with the responsibilities to provide legal advice to and represents the Ministry (Minister, Principal Deputies and other Lieutenants as well as the entire work force of the Ministry) on all legal matters. The section also provides legal representation for aggrieved indigent clients who are involved with labour related issues with their employers; especially so that those unresolved disputes are to face litigation.

Legal Affairs is headed by the Labour Solicitor and assisted by other labour/legal officers and administrators.

Workmen’s Compensation
The Department of Workmen’s Compensation ensures that all just compensations to deserving workers (i.e payoffs, overtime, leave, etc.) are paid in line with law. The department reviews and facilitates redundancy actions and handles the issuance of labour contractual certificate to hiring firms or sub-contractor companies. Workmen’s Compensation is headed by a director and supported by compliance officers.

Department of Occupational Health and Safety
This department reviews occupational health and safety policies of all business establishments having works associated with medium or high risks, ensure that these policies meet the standards to protect all workers from occupational injuries and death. The Department of Occupational Health and Safety also conduct workplace inspections on safety practices and issue compliance notices to entities that fall below the minimum regulatory requirements. Safety officers carry out the day-to-day field operations of the department and report to the Director.

Inspectorate
Supervised by the Inspector General and assisted by Inspectors, Inspectorate functions in monitoring and enforcing good labour practices in the world of works. This department is the policing arm of the Ministry; doing on-the-spot investigations and reporting all violations to the Ministry for onward action.