The Government has started discussions with the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) on the controversial amendments to the Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payment) Act.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of JEF, Leroy Brown, told The Gleaner yesterday that a senior representative of the federation recently held talks with the minister of labour. He said JEF had submitted recommendations, outlining its position on the law.

The legislation was amended to make it mandatory for employers to provide certain information to the Minister of Labour within 21 days of making a decision to make any position redundant.

The act requires employers to inform the minister about the effective date of the decision to dismiss the employee, the name and address of the employee, the amount payable to him/her and whether the employee is a member of a union.

Persons who breach this provision may be fined up to $250,000 and could face a maximum prison term of three months if convicted in the court.

Less than two weeks ago, Christopher Zacca, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, called for discussions between the business community and Labour Minister, Pearnel Charles, on the issue.

Zacca had expressed the view that the amendment to the law was not a business-friendly move.