Labour Department Opens Safety Concern Reporting and the Dispute Resolution Service

The Labour Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network today opened the reporting of workplace safety concerns. Any member of staff, staff association or member of the public may report a concern about the safety of a workplace of a member organisation by writing to the Department. Reports are acknowledged within two working days and assessed within five. A report of imminent danger is acted on the same day. A member of staff who reports a concern is protected by the Employment Rights Standard from any detriment for having done so.

Member organisations must notify the Department of a death, a serious injury or a dangerous occurrence at a workplace within 24 hours, and of an injury causing absence of more than seven days, or an occupational disease, within ten days. The categories of notifiable incident and the steps for reporting a concern are set out on the Workplace Safety page of this site.

The Department's Dispute Resolution Service opens on Monday 14 September 2026. The Service conciliates disputes between staff and their employers concerning the Employment Rights Standard, working time and leave, wages, dismissal and detriment for reporting a concern. Where conciliation does not settle a dispute, the Department determines it and may order the employer to pay wages owed, to reinstate a member of staff or to pay compensation. A determination is normally made within 60 working days of referral.

Thirty-one enquiries concerning disputes were received during the transition period and will be taken up by the Service in the order received when it opens. The stages of the procedure and the time limits at each stage are set out on the Disputes page of this site.