Workers who suffered discrimination and injustice should not wait for years for a remedy, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli said.

The Government, she added, must convey a clear message that it expected Industrial Tribunal chairpersons to hand down awards in a reasonable time.

Last year, 16 per cent of the cases took more than six months to be decided, Dr Dalli noted, adding that the Industrial and Employment Relations Act stipulated that awards should be given within a month.

The minister said that while one month was unrealistic, and the law needed to be amended, it was unacceptable that people should wait years for a decision.

There are 28 cases awaiting a decision, including one that has been waiting for more than four years and two for more than two years. Twenty-nine per cent of pending cases (223 cases) have been waiting for a decision more than six months, Dr Dalli said.