Chairman of the Labour Arbitration Tribunal Mr. Jamal Smith said the tribunal now has an online presence on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ website and is more accessible to the public.

Mr. Smith said the tribunal’s webpage is an integral part of meeting the constitutional mandate to provide access to information, while balancing transparency and privacy by an institution funded from the public purse.

The chairman said documents and guides on the Labour Arbitration Tribunal’s webpage include forms, procedural rules, published orders and awards.

“The webpage will also assist arbitrators, legal practitioners and other persons appearing before the tribunal, as well as serve as an important research tool in labour matters,” Mr. Smith said.

Secretary to the tribunal Mrs. Malisa Ragnauth-Mangal said that she was also pleased that the Tribunal has a platform to further assist the public and has urged persons to utilise the proper channels to have their issues addressed.

The secretary said contacting the tribunal’s chairman directly is prohibited and persons can contact the body at 468-4758, 468-4757 or via email at lat@gov.vg to receive assistance in a timely manner. Correspondences sent to the Tribunal should also be addressed to Mrs. Ragnauth-Mangal.                                                                                                                           

Persons can visit the tribunal’s webpage at http://bvi.gov.vg/departments/labour-arbitration-tribunal.

The Labour Arbitration Tribunal is an independent body set up under the Labour Code, 2010 which has power to make orders and awards with the same force as that from the High Court. The tribunal cannot be directed or controlled by any other person or authority in the exercise of its powers, and parties appearing before the body are entitled to the same rights or privileges as they would have before any court.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Photo 1: Official Photo of the Chairman of the Labour Arbitration Tribunal Mr. Jamal Smith LLB(Hons.), MCIArb.
Photo 2: Official Photo of the Secretary to the Tribunal Mrs. Malisa Ragnauth-Mangal
(Photo credit: GIS)