reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 45 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 2 - Occupational Safety and Health|§ 45. Division of Occupational Safety and Health

 (a) There is established in the Department of Labor, a Division of Occupational Safety and Health headed by a Director who has the rank of Assistant Commissioner and is responsible for the administration and operation of the Occupational Safety and Health Program. (b) The Governor shall appoint the Director. The Director may be removed by the Governor only for good cause shown. (c) All other personnel must be classified and appointed under the provisions of title 3, chapter 25 of the Virgin Islands Code.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 46 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 2 - Occupational Safety and Health|§ 46. Research and statistics

 (a) The Commissioner shall seek the aid of appropriate state and federal agencies in securing information regarding research, experiments, and demonstrations for the purpose of study and development of rules and for developing criteria dealing with toxic materials and harmful agents and substances. (b) The Commissioner shall secure and maintain any statistical information required for the administration of this chapter and to meet the requirements of the Secretary of Labor under the Federal Act.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 47 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 2 - Occupational Safety and Health|§ 47. Training and employee education

 (a) The Commissioner may consult with the United States Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services to develop and conduct: (1) education programs to provide an adequate supply of qualified personnel to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and (2) informational programs on the importance of the proper use of adequate safety and health equipment. (b) The Commissioner, in consultation with the United States Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services shall: (1) provide for the establishment and supervision of programs for the education and training of public-sector employers and employees in the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions in places of public sector employment covered by this chapter; and (2) consult with and advise of the public-sector employers, employees and organizations thereof, as to effective means of preventing occupational injuries and illnesses.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 48 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 2 - Occupational Safety and Health|§ 48. Forcible interference with conduct of inspection or other official duties

 (a) Whosoever forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes with any officer or employee of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor while engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years, or shall be both fined and imprisoned as provided in this section. (b) Whosoever, in the commission of any such act uses a deadly or dangerous weapon, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both such fine and imprisonment.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 49 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 2 - Occupational Safety and Health|§ 49. Exemptions for national defense purposes

 The Commissioner, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Labor of the United States, may allow reasonable exemptions from any or all provisions of this chapter when the exemption is necessary to avoid serious impairment of the national defense. An exemption may not be in effect for more than six months, without an opportunity being granted to any affected employee for a hearing.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 50 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 2 - Occupational Safety and Health|§ 50. Severability

 If any provision of this chapter or the application of the provision to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 61 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 61. Purpose

 The purpose of this chapter is to encourage the friendly adjustment of employer-employee disputes through the practice and procedure of collective bargaining, and to protect the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or mutual aid or protection.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 62 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 62. Definitions

 As used in this chapter— “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Labor; “employee” includes any employee or any individual whose work has ceased as a consequence of, or in connection with, any current labor dispute or because of any unfair labor practice, and who has not obtained any other regular and substantially equivalent employment, but does not include any individual employed as an agricultural laborer or as a seaman or engaged in the catching, taking or selling of any fresh fish, shellfish or crustacea, or in domestic service of any family or person at his home, or any individual employed by his parent or spouse, or an individual engaged in the activities of an educational, charitable, religious or non-profit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not, in fact, exist or where the services rendered to such organization are on a voluntary basis or any individual employed in a bonafide position in an executive or professional capacity; or any alien temporarily admitted to the Virgin Islands, except one who has a currently valid authorization to work for his employer, but does not include any person who has been employed by an employer for less than six (6) calendar months or is a “public employee” as defined in chapter 14 of this title; “employer” includes any person acting in the interest of an employer directly or indirectly that has employed five (5) or more employees for each working day in each of the twenty (20) or more calendar weeks in the two (2) year period preceding a discharge, but not a “public employer” as defined in chapter 14 of this title; “employer” includes any person acting in the interest of an employer directly or indirectly that has employed five (5) or more employees for each working day in each of the twenty (20) or more calendar weeks in the two (2) year period preceding a discharge, but not a “public employer” as defined in chapter 14 of this title; “labor dispute” includes any controversy concerning terms, tenure or conditions of employment, or concerning the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing or seeking to arrange terms or conditions of employment, regardless of whether the disputants stand in the proximate relation of employer and employee; “labor organization” means any organization of any kind or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work; “representative” includes any individual or labor organization; and “unfair labor practice” means any unfair labor practice listed in this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 63 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 63. Administration; regulations

 (a) The Commissioner of Labor shall administer the provisions of this chapter. (b) The Commissioner, with the approval of the Governor, shall make, amend, and rescind such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 64 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 64. Rights of employees

 (a) Employees shall have the right of self-organization, to form, join or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, free from interference, restraint, or coercion by employers. (b) [Repealed.] (c) [Repealed.] (d) [Repealed.]
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 65 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 65. Unfair labor practices

 It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer to— (1) spy upon or keep under surveillance, whether directly or through agents or any other person, any activities of employees or their representatives in the exercise of the rights set forth in section 64 of this title; (2) dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor organization or contribute financial or other support to it: Provided, That subject to rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner, an employer shall not be prohibited from permitting employees to confer with him during working hours without loss of time or pay; (3) by discrimination in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term of condition of employment, encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization, except that nothing in this chapter shall preclude an employer from making an agreement with a labor organization (not established, maintained or assisted by any act defined in this chapter as an unfair labor practice) to require as a condition of employment membership therein, if such labor organization is the representative of the employees; (4) discourage or otherwise discriminate against an employee because he has filed charges or given testimony under provisions of this chapter; (5) refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of his employees, subject to the provisions of this chapter; (6) refuse to discuss grievances with representatives of employees, subject to the provisions of this chapter; (7) give employment to persons who are illegally residing within the Virgin Islands. The responsibility of investigating and determining the legal residence of employees before they are hired shall rest upon employers; or (8) do any acts other than those enumerated in this section which restrain, coerce or interfere with employees in the exercise of the rights set forth in section 64 of this title; (9) no employer may dismiss or discharge an employee for the sole reason that the wages of the employee, due or to become due, have been made subject to an attachment or execution levied under the provisions of Chapter 44, Title 5 of this code. (10) segregate or classify an employee on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, or marital status, for purposes of an employee pension benefit plan or an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3 of Title 1 of the Federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Public Law 93–406). This paragraph shall not apply to the employment of an individual by his parent, spouse, or child.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 66 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 66. Exclusive representatives of employees; rights of individuals and groups

 Representatives designated or selected for the purpose of collective bargaining by the majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for such purposes, shall be exclusive representatives of all the employees in such unit for the purposes of collective bargaining in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, or other conditions of employment. Any individual employee or group of employees shall have the right at any time to represent grievances to their employer.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 67 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 67. Selection of representatives; elections

 (a) Whenever a question arises concerning the representation of employees, the Commissioner may investigate such controversy and certify to the parties, in writing, the name or names of the representatives that have been designated or selected. In any such investigation, the Commissioner shall provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice, and shall take a secret ballot of employees to ascertain such representatives. (b) The Commissioner shall have the power to determine who may participate in the election, when ordered, and to establish the rules governing such election. No election need be directed by the Commissioner solely because of the request of an employer or of the employees prompted thereto by their employer, nor shall any individual employed for the duration of a strike or lockout be eligible to vote in such election, nor shall such election be conducted with the employer's participation, assistance or supervision.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 68 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 68. Prevention of unfair labor practices; complaint; hearing; order; Commissioner as Federal agent; settlement of strikes

 (a) The Commissioner is empowered to prevent any person from engaging in any unfair labor practice. (b) Whenever it is charged that any person has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice, the Commissioner may issue and cause to be served upon such person a complaint stating the charges in that respect, and containing a notice of hearing before the Commissioner, at a place therein fixed, not less than 5 days after the serving of the complaint. The person so complained of may file an answer to the complaint and appear in person or otherwise and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaint. In any such proceedings, rules of evidence prescribed by the Commissioner shall be controlling. (c) If upon all the testimony taken the Commissioner is of the opinion that any person named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in any such unfair labor practice, the Commissioner shall state his finding of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on such person an order requiring such person to cease and desist from such unfair labor practice, and to take such affirmative action, including reinstatement of employees with or without back pay, as will effectuate the policies of this chapter. Such order may further require such person to make reports from time to time showing the extent to which he has complied with the order. If upon all the testimony taken the Commissioner is of the opinion that no person named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice, then the Commissioner shall state his finding of fact and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner shall be empowered by agreement with the National Labor Relations Board, to act as the Board's agent in any case within the Virgin Islands assigned to him by the said Board, and to accept and apply the provisions and procedures of the Federal Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended, in any such case referred to the Commissioner by the Board. (e) In the event of a strike or work stoppage of any kind, the Commissioner or his representative may intervene, using such means as may be necessary, in his discretion, to resolve said dispute. In the exercise of this power, he may appoint mediators and compensate them for their services. The Commissioner may, at the request of the parties act or appoint an individual to act as an arbitrator to make a final and binding award.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 69 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 69. Petition for judicial enforcement of order

 The Commissioner may petition the Superior Court or the District Court of the Virgin Islands for the enforcement of such an order under section 68 of this title and for appropriate temporary relief or restraining order and shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the record in the proceedings, including the pleading and testimony upon which the order was entered and the findings and order of the Commissioner. Upon such filing, the court shall cause notice to be served upon the person against whom the order is directed. Thereupon the court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and of the question determined therein, and may grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and proper, or issue a decree enforcing, modifying and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part the order of the Commissioner. In all such actions the Commissioner shall be represented by the United States attorney, and shall not be required to give bond as a condition to filing or maintaining any action for an injunction or restraining order.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 70 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 70. Petition by aggrieved person for judicial review of order

 (a) Any person aggrieved by a final order of the Commissioner granting or denying in whole or in part the relief sought may obtain a review of such order by filing in the Superior Court or the District Court, within 30 days of its issuance, a written petition praying that such decision of the Commissioner be modified or set aside. (b) No objection that has not been urged before the Commissioner shall be considered by the Court unless the failure or neglect to urge such objection is excused because of extraordinary circumstances. The findings of the Commissioner as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 71 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 71. Stay pending judicial proceedings

 The commencement of proceedings under sections 69 and 70 of this title shall not operate as a stay of the Commissioner's order, unless specifically ordered by the court.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 72 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 72. Time for hearing petitions

 Petitions filed under the provisions of this chapter shall be heard expeditiously and, if possible, within ten days after they have been docketed.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 73 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 73. Evidence; subpoenas; oaths

 For the purpose of all hearings and investigations which in the opinion of the Commissioner are necessary and proper for the exercise of the powers vested in him, the Commissioner shall at all reasonable times have access to, and for the purpose of examination, the right to copy any evidence of any person being investigated that relates to any matter under investigation. The Commissioner may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence that relates to any matter under investigation or in question, before him. He may administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 74 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 74. Contempt for refusal to obey subpoena

 In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, the Superior Court or the District Court of the Virgin Islands, upon application of the Commissioner, shall have jurisdiction to issue to such person an order requiring such person to appear before the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative, there to produce evidence as so ordered, or there to give testimony concerning the matter under investigation or in question. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 74a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 74a. Arbitration

 (a) Notwithstanding an employment contract that provides for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating to the employment relationship, arbitration may be used to settle such a dispute only if: (1) the employer or employee submits a written request after the dispute arises to the other party to use arbitration; and (2) the other party consents in writing not later than sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request to use arbitration. (b) An employer subject to this chapter may not require an employee to arbitrate a dispute as a condition of employment.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 75 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 75. Penalties

 Whoever wilfully resists, prevents, impedes or interferes with the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative, in the performance of his duties pursuant to this chapter, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 3 months, or both.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 76 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 76. Grounds for discharge

 (a) Unless modified by union contract, an employer may dismiss any employee: (1) who engages in a business which conflicts with his duties to his employer or renders him a rival of his employer; (2) whose insolent or offensive conduct toward a customer of the employer injures the employer's business; (3) whose use of intoxicants or controlled substances interferes with the proper discharge of his duties; (4) who wilfully and intentionally disobeys reasonable and lawful rules, orders, and instructions of the employer; provided, however, the employer shall not bar an employee from patronizing the employer's business after the employee's working hours are completed; (5) who performs his work assignments in a negligent manner; (6) whose continuous absences from his place of employment affect the interests of his employer; (7) who is incompetent or inefficient, thereby impairing his usefulness to his employer; (8) who is dishonest; or (9) whose conduct is such that it leads to the refusal, reluctance or inability of other employees to work with him. (b) The Commissioner may by rule or regulation adopt additional grounds for discharge of an employee not inconsistent with the provisions enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. (c) Any employee discharged for reasons other than those stated in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered to have been wrongfully discharged; however, nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting an employer from terminating an employee as a result of the cessation of business operations or as a result of a general cutback in the work force due to economic hardship, or as a result of the employee's participation in concerted activity that is not protected by this title.
V.I. Code tit. 24, § 77 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 24 - Labor|Chapter 3 - Labor Relations|§ 77. Complaint to Commissioner; investigations, hearings, and orders

 (a) Any employee discharged for any reason other than those contained in section 76 of this chapter may, within thirty (30) days after discharge, file a written complaint with the Commissioner. (b) The Commissioner shall cause to be served upon the employer a copy of the complaint stating the charges and a written notice of hearing before the Commissioner which shall be held ten (10) days after service of the complaint. The Commissioner shall also provide such written notice to the employee filing the complaint. The employer named in the complaint may file an answer to the complaint and such employer and the employee filing the complaint may appear in person or otherwise and give testimony at the time and place of the hearing as fixed in the complaint. In any such proceedings, rules of evidence prescribed by the Commissioner shall be controlling. (c) If upon all testimony taken the Commissioner finds that the employer named in the complaint has wrongfully discharged an employee, the Commissioner shall state his findings and shall serve on the employer an order requiring that the employee be reinstated with back pay. If upon all the testimony taken the Commissioner finds that the employee has not been wrongfully discharged, then the Commissioner shall state his findings of fact and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint.