FEATURES OF WORKPLACE FAIRNESS HEARINGS
Workplace fairness claims at both the ECT and High Court will be heard in private. Hearings will be closed to the media and other members of the public.
MOM said private hearings will preserve workplace and social harmony by minimising the inflammation of social tensions and public resentment against parties, especially when a case is ongoing.
Private hearings will also allow parties to share their honest views and focus on the ongoing case, without third parties present who may misrepresent or sensationalise the dispute, said the ministry.
However, this does not mean that gag orders will be imposed or that judgments will not be published. If the state takes enforcement action against errant employers, these will also continue to be public.
Both the ECT and High Court will adopt a “judge-led” approach, where the judge takes a proactive role in managing the case, said MOM.
This will include “guiding parties to define or narrow the key issues, filtering out irrelevant matters, and focusing on the evidence required”.
Judges can also take steps to move the case forward efficiently by making procedural orders on their own initiative, without formal applications from the parties.
This helps parties without legal training to navigate the claims process smoothly, said MOM.
