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History

The Industrial Court was established in 1940 under the Industrial Court of Inquiry Rules but it did not function due to the Japanese Occupation. During the Emergency period, trade union activities were carried out illegally as many trade union leaders were influenced by communist subversive elements.

The Industrial Court Ordinance 1948 was enacted to establish an arbitration system. For the first time, trade unions were legally registered.

The Industrial Court at that time was a voluntary arbitration body, which heard disputes on an ad hoc basis. Between 1948 – 1964, only 4 disputes were heard.

The voluntary arbitration system was abolished with the introduction of new regulations. The Essential (Prohibition of Strikes and Prescribed Industrial Action) Regulations 1965 and the Essential (Arbitration in the Essential Services) Regulations 1965 were made under the Emergency (Essential Powers) Act 1964 to prohibit any industrial action in both the public and private sectors which are classified as essential services.

In 1967, the Industrial Relations Act 1967 was enacted whereby compulsory arbitration was introduced. Any trade dispute which is not resolved through conciliation may be referred to the Industrial Court for arbitration.

The present Industrial Court was established under the Industrial Relations Act 1967.

The Industrial Relations Act 1967 has been amended in 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1989, 1990 and 2007. All those amendments did not affect the basic provisions.