Duties of Labour Commissioner

(1) It shall be the duty of the Labour Commissioner, subject to the directions of the Minister– (a) to receive and investigate all representations whether of employees or of workers made to him concerning any occupation or employment with a view to the settlement and conciliation of disputes and grievances especially regarding hours and conditions of work and regulation of wages and where necessary to report thereon to the (b) to advise the Minister with regard to the betterment of industrial relations and generally on all labour matters; (c) to ensure the due enforcement of this Act and of any enactments amending it and of any other Acts in Belize which he, may from time to time be required to enforce; (d) to collect, analyze and publish statistics and general information in respect of– (i) employment and unemployment; (ii) wages, rates, and earnings; 21 (iii) employment of women, children and (iv) price indices; (v) hours of work; (vi) industrial accidents; (vii) industrial disputes, strikes and lockouts; or (viii) such other questions as may be assigned to the Department for study; (e) to foster development of trade unionism and collective bargaining and to advise employers and trade unions of new methods and needs in industrial relations, organisation and practice; or (f) to perform such further or other duties as may from time to time be required of him by any Act or by the Minister. (2) The Labour Commissioner shall receive and investigate complaints from employees concerning employer’s action of unfair dismissal or wrongful termination with a view to settlement and conciliation. (3) Subject to sub-section (2)– (a) the Labour Commissioner may submit to the Tribunal, any matter under section 201, which the Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear; (b) a may request the Commissioner to submit his complaint to the Tribunal where the worker is not satisfied with 22 the decision of the Labour Commissioner and the Labour Commissioner shall comply with the worker’s request if the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.