(a) No employer may discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee because the employee has filed any complaint, instituted or caused to be instituted or participated in any proceedings under or related to this article, has testified or is about to testify in any such proceedings or has exercised on behalf of himself or others any right afforded by this article.
(b) Any employee who believes that he has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of this section may, within thirty days after the alleged violation occurs, file a complaint with the commissioner alleging such discrimination. Upon receipt of the complaint the commissioner shall cause an investigation to be made. If after such investigation the commissioner determines that the provisions of this section have been violated, he shall bring an action in the circuit court of Kanawha County against the employer. In any such action, the court has jurisdiction, for cause shown, to restrain violations of subsection (a) of this section and to order all appropriate relief including rehiring or reinstatement of the employee to his former position with back pay plus interest at the statutory rate in this state.