Employee Wins BD 31,000 Compensation

The High Labour Court ordered a company to pay around BD 31,000 to a former employee after ruling that his dismissal was unfair and lacked proper notice, ending a dispute following 15 years of service.

According to lawyer Zahra Neama, her client had worked with the company for more than 15 years, earning a monthly salary of BD 1,900 before his employment was abruptly terminated without valid justification or settlement of his dues.

The company defended its decision, arguing that the termination was a disciplinary action based on alleged employee violations; therefore, no compensation or notice payment was required.

However, after reviewing testimonies and evidence from both parties, the court found that the employment contract was open-ended and that the employee had not received his final salary of BD 1,391 after lawful deductions. Because the company failed to prove payment, the court ordered it to settle the amount.

On the issue of dismissal, the court ruled that the employer provided insufficient evidence to justify termination. It also rejected the company’s witness statements, noting there was no proof that the employee committed the alleged violations.

The court further stated that the mandatory three-month notice period was not observed, rendering the dismissal unlawful.

As a result, the court awarded BD 5,238 in lieu of notice and BD 20,962 as compensation for unfair dismissal.

In addition, the court ruled in favor of the employee regarding unused annual leave, finding no credible evidence that he had received or used his entitlement. It awarded BD 3,438 for 60 days of unused leave covering the last two years and part of the third year.

The company must pay the full amount, along with statutory interest for delayed payment, and to issue an official certificate of service covering the employee’s tenure.