Legislation that provides greater protections to employees during rest periods was passed in the House of Assembly.
The Employment Amendment (No. 2) Act 2026 — which received objections from the One Bermuda Alliance over the definition of the term “off duty” — makes provisions for measures that prohibit an employer from taking disciplinary action against an employee while on leave or off duty.
It also makes provisions affecting the imposition of civil penalties by the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal for noncompliance and provides for the extension of the timeline for the delivery of tribunal decisions.
Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, told the House on Friday that the legislation has its genesis in a report which was submitted by the Labour Relations Tribunal.
He said after reading the report, he took it to the Labour Advisory Council and they collectively discussed the provisions in the amendment.
“The consensus of the group was extremely supportive,” Mr Hayward said, adding that the reforms were not promulgated “in isolation”.
He said: “The outcomes that we have today will have a meaningful impact on those trying to seek employment justice.”
Mr Hayward said at the core of the legislation, which amends the Employment Act 2000 “is about ensuring employment justice works”.
Michael Fahy, the Shadow Minister Economy, Labour and Housing, said there were many aspects of the legislation “which makes a lot of sense”.
However, he said there was no clear...
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