More Industrial Courts Needed In Johor To Clear Backlog Says Bar Council

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The council’s industrial and employment law committee says the state’s sole Industrial Court has been setting trial dates as late as the end of 2027.The Industrial Court of Malaysia said the delays were due to priority being given to older cases. (File pic)PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council has called for the establishment of more Industrial Courts in Johor following significant delays in setting trial dates and delivering awards
The council’s industrial and employment law committee (IELC) said the state’s sole Industrial Court had been setting trial dates as late as the end of 2027.
“There have been considerable delays in fixing trial dates and delivering awards at the Johor Industrial Court,” IELC representatives told a recent consultative committee meeting with stakeholders.
The IELC said that, in view of the huge backlog, Johor should establish another Industrial Court, as it had before the number was reduced to one.
According to a Bar Council circular sighted by FMT, the meeting was between Industrial Court of Malaysia (ICM) president Jeffry Kassim and Bar Council representatives, court chairmen, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and other stakeholders.
In its response, the ICM said the delays were due to priority being given to older cases, adding that it welcomed the proposal to increase the number of Industrial Courts in Johor.
“ICM is taking steps to prepare a proposal paper to the human resources ministry to increase the number of courts not just in Johor, but in other suitable locations as well,” it added.
On another matter, the ICM rejected a request by the MTUC and other parties to remove the names of parties in dispute from its website following allegations that such information had resulted in employees who filed unfair dismissal claims being unable to secure new jobs.
“ICM cannot arbitrarily remove names from its website as the information is part of the public domain,” it said. - FMT

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