THE labour ministry has reported a 5.8 per cent increase in the number of complaints received about pay and conditions of employment, with the figure moving from 4,502 in 2000 to 4,765 in 2001.

This is contained in the ministry’s Security Statistical Bulletin 2001 that was tabled in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

According to the document, a total of 2,267 or 47.6 per cent of the complaints were in regard to termination and redundancy payments, while 1,936 or 40.6 per cent related to holiday payments. Approximately 55.8 per cent of the complainants were women.

The parish of Kingston recorded the highest number of complaints with 1,616 or 33.9 per cent, followed by the western region with 31.5 per cent or 1,501.

While the Kingston regional office recorded the largest number of complaints in relation to the Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act, the Montego Bay regional office recorded the highest in relation to the Holiday with Pay Act.

The report said there were 1,232 inspections for 2001, a decrease of 30 per cent. Kingston recorded a significant decrease of 91.3 per cent, moving from 918 to 80. And while in the year 2000 inspections regarding the National Minimum Wage Act accounted for 24.4 per cent of total inspections, 2001 saw the figure decreasing to 21.3 per cent.

Inspections made in relation to the Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act accounted for the largest percentage of visits with 29.7 per cent.

Investigations also declined by 24.3 per cent moving from 4,436 down to 1,845. All categories of labour laws recorded an increase in investigations, except the National Minimum Wage Act, which declined to 293 from 1,212.

At the same time, voluntary settlements made by employers in 2001 experienced a decline of 7.1 per cent. The figure fell from $19.9 million to $18.5 million. Payments regarding the Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act and the Maternity Leave Act declined by 12.8 per cent and 49.9 per cent respectively. Kingston recorded the highest amount of funds collected, 40.8 per cent totalling $7.5 million.