The Employment Rights Tribunal of Barbados piloting the ILO Diagnostic Tool on Access to Labour Justice

Recently, the ILO Labour Law and Reform Unit (GOVERNANCE Department) embarked on developing a Diagnostic Tool on the functioning of judicial and non-judicial institutions for dispute prevention and resolution, with a view to strengthen the delivery of technical assistance on access to labour justice. The modules of the Diagnostic Tool are constructed as questionnaires that incorporate a range of effectiveness principles as assessment criteria.

During his visit to Geneva last June, the Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector of Barbados, the Hon. Colin E. Jordan, M.P., expressed his willingness to include the Employment Rights Tribunal of Barbados within the list of institutions that would contribute to the piloting of the Tool. The Employment Rights Tribunal faces several challenges in its functioning and delivery and is about to have its mandate expanded over additional labour laws.

On 13-15 September 2022, Mr. Pablo Arellano and Ms. Valérie Van Goethem, ILO Labour Law Specialists (LABOURLAW Unit) facilitated a tripartite discussion on the effectiveness of the Employment Rights Tribunal. Participants in the discussion included tribunal adjudicators (decision-makers), social partners, Labour Department representatives, administrative staff of the Tribunal, conciliators/mediators and academics.

The discussion allowed participants to draw up a list of actions to strengthen the effectiveness of the Tribunal, including with respect to its efficiency and resources, independence, speediness and professionalism. It is anticipated that this list of actions will help the Government, the labour ministry and the social partners to get a common understanding of existing challenges and jointly devise measures to address them, with the support of the ILO.