PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry has announced the appointment of three new Industrial Court Chairmen, namely Jeyaseelan T. Anthony, S. Vanithamany, and Arun Kumar S. Kanesi.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said that the appointments, which are for a four-year term, have now completed the filling of chairman positions at the Industrial Court.
He said the appointments of Jeyaseelan and Vanithamany took effect on Oct 17, while Arun Kumar's appointment will begin on Nov 18.
"To achieve the set KPI (key performance indicator), one initiative is to appoint three chairmen with extensive experience in labour law. This appointment is expected to expedite case handling and increase the number of resolved cases at the Industrial Court," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 13).
Sim noted that Arun Kumar, at 45 years old, is the youngest chairman appointed to the position since Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, who assumed the role in 2007 at the age of 39.
He said these appointments represent a significant achievement and mark a generational shift in the Industrial Court's leadership.
"This blend of young leadership and experienced individuals will continue to enhance the efficiency of the Industrial Court in handling labour cases swiftly and effectively," he said.
A review of the Industrial Court's official website shows that 20 chairmen have been appointed so far, comprising 12 men and eight women.
The Industrial Court, established under the Industrial Relations Act 1967 (Act 177), is a tribunal and a single body tasked with deciding cases involving layoffs, collective agreements, and industrial disputes between employers, employees, and relevant trade unions.
The main focus of the Industrial Court reform process is to shorten the court process duration, reduce case backlogs in both the Industrial Court and Labour Court, and improve facilities and amenities in both courts. – Bernama
