IDT addresses JMDA’s unrest

The Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) says that it has taken note of pronouncements by the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) that it cannot guarantee normality in the public health system if it fails to finalise its award by Friday.

The IDT is to determine and settle the dispute between the JMDA and the Government of Jamaica over emergency duty allowance (compensation of extra hours worked). The IDT said that it remains committed to delivering reasoned and fair rulings, and is fully aware that unusual delays in handing down awards could erode the public’s confidence in it.

“While the legal maxim holds true, that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, we remain mindful that in complex and intricate matters, requiring extensive review of exhibits and authorities, ‘justice must also be careful’,” the entity said. It noted in the Labour Relations & Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA), under section 12(1) that there is a provision for an award to be handed down “...within 21-days after the dispute as so referred, or if it is impracticable to make an award within that period it shall do so as soon as may be practicable...”.

“However, it is always virtually impossible to do so having regard to meeting schedules and unexpected delays,” the IDT said. The entity said that where delays are excessive, it has a duty to apologise and urge the parties to the dispute, as well as the public, to exercise patience.

The IDT said it “will continuously work to improve benchmark standards for more timely delivery of awards as soon as proceedings are completed”.