However, Smith stopped short of announcing the name of the new Chair which she said was ratified just before she embarked on a recent trip to the United Kingdom (UK).

The tribunal has been without a Chairperson for months, causing delays in the hearing of labour disputes and other related matters.

Former Labour Minister Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull had disclosed that a Chairman was expected to be appointed to the Tribunal in January, but delays in the appointment persisted until now.

“I think I’m right that an appointment is about to be made. In fact, Cabinet did make an appointment or approved an appointment and I think, Premier, I can say who it is at this time?,” Smith said at a press briefing earlier this week.

However, Smith was told by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley immediately after making that statement, that they will hold off on an announcement about the person that was appointed to the post.

The Labour Arbitration Tribunal makes decisions about labour disputes and regulates its own procedures as to how it will do so.

This includes complaints about things like unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, redundancy and discrimination in the workplace as well as reviewing certain decisions of the Labour Commissioner.