Many workers are losing faith in the labour dispute system, not because their cases lack merit, but because disputes take far too long to be resolved.

Employees often wait months for conciliation, and then even longer for arbitration. During this time, workers are without income, under financial pressure, and emotionally drained. Too often, this delay creates an imbalance in practice, where workers give up simply to survive, while employers face little immediate consequence.

The separation of conciliation and arbitration frequently worsens this problem. In many cases, it becomes a delay tactic, rather than a tool for fair resolution. Workers lose momentum, evidence becomes stale, and justice is postponed.

Labour laws were designed to protect fairness and dignity in the workplace. When delays undermine access to justice, the spirit of those laws is weakened.

A system that truly serves fairness must prioritise timely resolution, accountability, and equal access to justice — not exhaustion and delay.

Protecting workers’ rights should not depend on how long someone can afford to wait.