The Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] (No. 13) Regulations 2020 were revoked and replaced by the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] (No. 14) Regulations 2020 (‘Regulation No. 14’) issued on 13th May 2020.
Regulation No. 14 adds trade union services to the list of essential services. The Office of the Prime Minister has indicated that this was done in anticipation of increased business and working activity as the country enters Phase 1 of the ease and eventual lifting of Covid-19 related restrictions.
In a 21st April 2020 interview, President of the Industrial Court Deborah Thomas Felix noted that the Court may have to deal with a deluge of industrial relations matters related to Covid-19 after the pandemic, due to the many employment and industrial relations issues that arose during the pandemic.
Employers should anticipate increased union activity as the country seeks to get back to business.
