Government has appointed Bermuda's Employment Tribunal as required under the new Employment Act.

The purpose of the Act is to promote fair treatment of employers and employees, provide minimum standards, establish procedures and notice periods for termination, protect against unfair dismissal and establish an employment tribunal.

The Act came into effect on March 1, 2001 but employers were given up to March this year to comply with the regulations.

"It's taken us a little time because I wanted to be sure we had a broad representation," said Labour Minister Terry Lister.

He said he was pleased with the board as a "nice mix" of representatives from management, labour as well as people with arbitration experience had been appointed to the tribunal.

The 12 member tribunal is headed by Kenneth Richardson with Lennett Edwards as the deputy chair. Other members are lawyer Kelvin Hastings-Smith, senate president Alf Oughton and Gary Phillips.

The tribunal is the equivalent of an industrial court and any labour related matters go to the tribunal rather than through the regular court system.

But employees will first have to take any grievances to the Employment Inspector who will refer the matter to the tribunal if a resolution cannot be found.

Andrea Mowbray, the executive director of the Bermuda Employers Council said the organisation was pleased with the make-up of the Tribunal.

But The Royal Gazette understands it will be a few more weeks before the tribunal members are prepared to hear cases.

"The procedure is should there be a matter that the company and the employee cannot resolve the Inspector will be called in. If the parties cannot come to a resolution after that then the case would be put to the tribunal," Mr. Lister said.