Arbitration panel to help settle labour disputes

"The conciliation panel will have the authority to initiate penal action against the two parties in dispute, including imposing a one-year ban on the employee, halting labour transactions of violating facilities, besides blacklisting companies which breach labour laws and regulations," an official source told Khaleej Times.

He said the move was also aimed at ensuring in-depth and accurate probe into disputes, so as to put an end to baseless complaints and protect the rights of employees against unyielding stance of some employers, who tend to adopt intransigent attitude towards possible settlement.

The official explained that the committee will function as a mediator between the Labour Dispute Department and the Labour court, in an attempt to resolve labour dispute cases within a stipulated time and in an amicable manner.

"When the Legal Department fails to reach a peaceful settlement of labour dispute cases, the Ministry will refer such cases to the committee for further investigation to achieve amicable settlement instead of referring the case to the judiciary," said the official.

The official stressed that the committee would be swift in taking decisions over labour disputes, so as not to hinder the process of provisions of the law, stipulating a specific period for involving legal authorities to handle cases from the date of submitting disputes to the labour authorities.

"Members of the committee should make sure that they abide by the two-week specified duration under the law to refer unsettled disputes to court, so as to safeguard the rights of employees, who are usually the most affected category in labour disputes," the official said.