Charles was opening the debate on an Act to Amend the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act.

"The employers are now being warned that this proposed amendment to the law can give these workers the opportunity to obtain what is due to them despite their financial constraints," Charles told Parliament.

The House of Representatives yesterday approved the act which, if passed by the Senate also, would allow all workers to go directly to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) to seek redress.

Representation

At present, only unionised workers are entitled to repre-sentation before the IDT. Non-unionised workers would require an order from the minister for the cases to be heard by the IDT.

However, Charles has said that the law, as it is now, makes it "highly unlikely" for the minister to utilise any power to refer cases.

He told Parliament that non-unionised workers have been at a disadvantage and are continually exploited by employers.

Yesterday, Opposition Spokes-person on the Public Service, Natalie Neita Headley, said the proposed amendment to the law represents a victory for the workers.

"Today is a triumphant day for the workers of this country...the protection of the workers have been moved to another level," Neita Headley remarked.

Similarly, Derrick Kellier, the opposition spokesman on labour and social security, said the proposed amendments would advance the cause of the Jamaican workers.

Full support

"This is a very progressive piece of legislation that was initiated by the People's National Party and the Opposition gives its full support," Kellier said.

Charles estimated that more than 30,000 Jamaicans have lost jobs since the worldwide recession began impacting Jamaica in the last 15 months ago, even though under 16,000 redundancy notices have been sent to the ministry.

"Some workers who have served their employers faithfully and diligently for years are simply being dismissed for no justifiable reason as employers seek to circumvent the requirement to pay redundancy entitlements," Charles told Parliament.

He added: "Some of these workers will not have the financial means to seek what is due to them from their employer through the court system."