Minister Paula Cox over amendments to the Employment Act.

Ms Cox presented the amended Bill to the House of Assembly for discussion purposes only last Friday.

Among the changes made to the proposed legislation was a weakening of the powers of the labour relations officers.

But Mr. Burgess said that the officers never had any real power and that changes made to the enforcement section of the Bill now reflected that.

"It will certainly cut down on time,'' was Mr. Burgess' response to grievances being heard in the first instance by a tribunal, instead of a labour relations officer.

"The matters will be much clearer now as they will be law,'' he added.

"When an employer doesn't want to give an employee maternity leave, the labour officer will simply point out that it is the law. Then the matter should go straight to tribunal. I agree that makes good sense.

"I think the Bill is a good start,'' he said. "It is something we definitely support as there are unscrupulous employers out there who have no regard for the law or the workers.

" There are several employers who are very good also,'' he added.

Mr. Burgess praised Ms Cox for "consulting with all the social partners'' and said the efforts would go a long way to ensuring receptiveness to the Bill.

Derrick Burgess BUSINESS BUC