The Ministry of Labour yesterday said that it recovered $69m last year on behalf of workers.
A release from the ministry said that this was a 42 per cent increase from 2022, when it recovered $40 million. It recovered $38.2 million in 2021 and $13.2 million in 2020. This $160,425,575 million was owed to employees for overdue wages, yearly leave, notice, overtime payments and severance benefits.
During the ministry’s press conference yesterday, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton said that the ministry’s efforts in recovering payments owing to employees demonstrates the government’s commitment to defending workers’ rights, as promised.
According to the release, he said that for 2023, the ministry received 912 complaints from employees relating to termination benefits, annual leave, unlawful salary deductions and overtime payments, among other things.
Eighty-five percent of the complaints were handled, with the remaining 15 percent expected to be resolved during the first quarter of 2024.
Hamilton stated that while the ministry acknowledges a considerable number of complaints from private security staff, it has been able to reduce such complaints through seminars and other means.
