Section 5: Apprehension of trade dispute by the Minister.

(1) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Act, where a trade dispute is apprehended by the Minister he may in writing inform the parties or their representative of his apprehension and of the steps he proposes to take for the purpose of resolving the dispute.
(2) Such steps as the Minister may, pursuant to this section, take may include-
(a) the appointment of a conciliator under section 8 of this Act; or
(b) a reference of the dispute or any matter relating thereto for settlement to the Industrial Arbitration Panel under section 9 of this Act; or
(c) a reference of the dispute to a board of inquiry under section 33 of this Act.