Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference today, December 2, 2022, the Minister said advertisements have gone out so the process is currently ongoing to have a new chairman in place.

“The Labour Tribunal has gone through; I think the Commissioner for the tribunal post came to end at the end of July. Advertisements have gone out, applications have been received, so it is now going through the process to be able to have that position filled,” he told the press following questions.

Former Chairman and attorney Jamal S. Smith, appearing on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on November 7, 2022, said since July 31, 2022, there have been no matters put before the tribunal, given the absence of a chairman. Mr Smith had lamented that the absence of a chairman has left persons with matters in a hostage situation for the last four months.

Process being streamlined- Hon Turnbull 

Hon Turnbull expressed his sincere apologies to the persons with cases waiting to be heard before the Labour Tribunal; however, he added that part of the hold-up is due to budgetary plans for the commission.

“We have some issues that we're going to regulate, that we're regulating now through the budgetary process, because one of the things that I met when coming in as a minister is the amount of work that the Commissioner and his team carries out based on the stipend that they're getting,” he added.

“So before I hope and say by January , hopefully, the interview process and the appointments happen, we should have a new Chairman in place with the budget to support that entire operation,” Hon Turnbull indicated.