LEGISLATION HAS been drafted to give contract workers an opportunity to take their work-related disputes with employers to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) for arbitration.

Senator Dwight Nelson, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, said last week that the proposed law was now awaiting approval from the Attorney General's Department. It would then be sent to the legislation committee of Cabinet.

Nelson made the disclosure in the Senate last Friday in response to a call by Opposition Senator Basil Waite for the Government to amend the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA). Waite wants non-unionised workers to be given some form of legal recourse to arbitration under the IDT.

Amendment passed

The discussion formed part of a debate on the Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act. The Senate passed an amend-ment to the act.

Contending that about 70 per cent of the labour force was not unionised, Waite said the right of the worker to arbitration should not be left to discretion.

Waite also urged the Government to establish a labour advisory council to protect workers.

However, Nelson said the establishment of such a council would require a tripartite agreement - between the employer, worker and the State.

Meanwhile, amendments to the LRIDA will now require employers to advise the Ministry of Labour of planned redundancies.

Employers who breach the amended law could be fined $250,000-$1 million.