(1) The Labour Court may, in accordance with this section, exempt an employer from the obligation to pay an employee or number of employees entitlements otherwise payable to them in accordance with section 14, not being entitlements to which section 14(b), 15 or 16 apply.

(2) An exemption under subsection (1) shall be for a period not exceeding one year and not less than 3 months, and while it remains in force the employer accordingly need not so comply.

(3) The Labour Court shall not exempt an employer under subsection (1) if the employer has previously ever been granted an exemption under that subsection.

(4) An employer or employer's representative with the employer's consent may, in the manner and form approved by the Labour Court, apply to the Labour Court for an exemption under subsection (1).

(5) On receiving an application under subsection (4) the Labour Court shall convene a hearing of parties to the application and shall give its decision on the application in writing to the parties.

(6) Before granting an exemption under subsection (1), the Labour Court must be satisfied that -