Mauritius : Launching of e-tribunal system at the Employment Relations Tribunal

The e-tribunal system for the Employment Relations Tribunal (ERT) was launched yesterday at the new venue of the Tribunal at Newton Tower in Port Louis, amidst senior representatives of the Bar and the Law Society.

With the e-tribunal electronic case management system, ERT will post online its awards and statements of case and of defence or other documents presented before the Tribunal. The e-system will also allow lawyers, disputants, witnesses and the tribunal to gain time between the lodging of a case and its final disposal.

The former Permanent Arbitration Tribunal, set up under the Industrial Relations Act of 1973, made way for the Employment Relations Tribunal established under the Employment Relations Act of 2008, which came into force in February 2009. The ERT which hears industrial disputes and delivers awards is thus a showcase of the principles governing the newly proclaimed Act. The Employment Relations Act of 2008 lays emphasis on the peaceful settlement of labour disputes and the exhaustion of all dispute resolution processes before industrial action is undertaken and makes provision for a new drive towards collective bargaining and the arbitration of industrial disputes.

It will be recalled that about 150 cases are referred to the ERT yearly and the Tribunal is expected to hear and determine an appeal within 90 days of the date of lodging. ERT has as main functions to settle industrial disputes in the civil service, the private sector and parastatal bodies and local government services in addition to hearing appeals related to decisions of the Conciliation and Mediation Commission. ERT also contributes to the promotion of harmonious industrial relations.