Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) for the Court’s 2024 Open Day.

Delighted to have joined the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) for the Court’s 2024 Open Day. Open Days are pivotal in providing a platform for stakeholders within the justice ecosystem—including court users, judges, and judicial officers—to align their efforts and collaborate effectively.

The theme of this year’s Open Day, ‘Stakeholder Involvement in Case Management for Effective Service Delivery,’ highlights the essential role of stakeholders in our judicial processes. It underscores the importance of every voice in the justice ecosystem and the collective effort required to ensure that we are all reading from the same script. The Open Day offers an invaluable opportunity to learn about the work being done by the ELRC, share insights, and provide feedback, fostering a deeper understanding and stronger partnerships.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has made commendable strides in recent years. I am pleased to highlight the impressive case clearance rate of 190% recorded in the last financial year.

The Court resolved 8,014 cases as compared to 4,210 cases that were filed in the course of the last financial year. As at the end of June 2024, the ELRC had 6,966 pending cases, a reduction of 30% from 9,896 cases that were within the system at the start of the financial year.

In addition, at the end of June, there were only 240 pending cases that had been in the system for over three (3) years. Thus, the court is at the threshold of attaining our STAJ benchmark that no case should be before a trial court for more than 3 years.

This achievement means the court is not only keeping up with new filings but also effectively addressing the backlog of cases. Such efficiency is testament to the court’s dedication and the effectiveness of its case management strategies.

The Judiciary is also keenly following the National call for deeper and broader accountability. We welcome the demands by our citizens to operate a corruption free Judiciary. We are leading the charge against corruption through the NCAJ and encourage the public to continue exposing instances of bribery and corruption for firm resolution by the Judicial Service Commission.