The Jurisdiction of the Labour Court under the New Labour Act - the Dawn of a New Era

Abstract

Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends, it is a matter of great honour and pri viledge for me to be afforded an opportunity to make this presentation in honour of the late Kempton Makamure. I had the good fortune of knowing and associating with the late Kempton Makamure during his lifetime. I first met him in 1980 emerging from the bush after fighting in the brutal war of liberation. I knew the late Kempton as a great Marxist visionary with a passion for the well-being of workers and peasants at heart. I knew him as a lecturer, politician and a part-time member of the now defunct Labour Relations Board. The labour court has its origins from the Industrial Conciliation Act [Chapter 267] which became law on the 1sl January 1960. It then was composed of two bodies the Industrial Court and the Industrial Tribunal. The Industrial court acted as an appeal court against the decisions of the registrar regarding trade union and employer’s unions. The Industrial Tribunal heard cases referred to it by Industrial Councils and Boards. It also acted as an advisory board to the Minister on labour disputes.