S. Bobanie Browne for the Plaintiff

 

1. Nicol for the Defendant

 

1. This matter was forwarded to the Industrial Court by memorandum  dated the l i h October, 2018.

 

1. The background is that Messrs George Richards, Junisa James and Suffian Sheick by letter dated 31st January, 2018 reported the matter of non-payment of Redundancy compensation, End of  Service Benefits and other entitlements to the Ministry of Labour  and Social Security ("The  Ministry")..

 

1. Consistent with practice on receipt of the complaint, the Ministry invited the Defendant to a meeting by Letter dated 6th February, 2018. The Defendant did not attend the meeting scheduled for the 21st  February,  2018.

 

1. Another meeting scheduled for the 1st May, 2018 was also not attended  by the Defendant.

 

1. Eventually, the Ministry contacted one Sorie Dumbuya, Operations Manager of the Defendant  who promised to  make himself  available for a meeting scheduled for the 4th March, 2018. Mr. Dumbuya  did not turn  up for  that meeting.

 

1. The Ministry eventually tracked down one Mr. Rupert Davies, the New Chief Executive Officer of the Defendant. Mr. Davies confirmed receipt of all correspondences from the Ministry but advised that it would be more useful to  interview  Mr. Dumbuya. Mr. Dumbuya    never showed up at the Minist ry.

 

1. Several efforts to get Mr. Rupert Davies or Mr. Sorie Dumbuya to attend a meeting at the Ministry were futile. The entitlements of the Plaintiffs were therefore computed and the matter referred to the Industrial Court.

 

1. The trial commenced on the 26th November, 2018. The Plaintiff who was present was represented by Mohamed Bawoh Esq. The Defendant was absent and also unrepresented.

 

EXAMINATION  OF WITNESS ES

 

1. PW1 - George Richards_ -

PWl was an employee of the Defendants and the other Plaintiff were also their employees. He tendered a letter of employment with the 15th October, 1998 as date of employment. The initial salary was Le75,000/00 monthly

 

1. PWl worked for the Defendants up to January, 2017. His last monthly was Lel,220,000/00. He never proceeded on annual leave during the period of his employment.

 

1. PWl and the other workers worked eight hour  shifts.

 

1. PWl explained that the Plaintiffs decided to take this  action because when the former Manager Director of the Defendants passed away, he was successed by one Mr. Rupert Davies,. Mr. Davies, who made an appearance in this action, leased the company to Lebanese businessmen. The Lessees asked the employees of the Defendants to re-apply for their jobs. PWl explained that on receiving this instruction, the workers invited Mr. Rupert Davies to a meeting and informed him  about  the instruction from the lessees.  Mr. Davies  advised   them   tc comply but the workers refused on the ground that they were already employed and if the Lessees wanted them to re-apply,  they must first pay their terminal benefits.

 

1. PWl testified that Mr. Davies accepted their condition and  promised to pay them off. This promise was not fulfilled. The Ministry invited him to several meetings but he failed to turn up.

 

1. PWl concluded that up to the time of giving evidence,    he has not

'\

been paid his benefits.                                                                   ·

 

1. PW2 denied been allowed to operate the Ice machine on humanitarian grounds but agreed that he was freezing water in satchels because the Defendant had stopped paying him.

 

1. PW2 admitted receiving a letter from a Solicitor acting on behalf of Defendant accusing him of theft but this was after his complaint of non-payment of benefits to the Ministry. The letter was in any event not accepted by the Ministry.

 

1. In re-examination, PW2 testified that he was given permission by the Management to carry on petty trading on the premises.

 

1. After  the  examination  of  PW2,  the Managing   Director  of  the Defendant, Mr. Rupert Davies, by order of this Court appeared on the 13th December, 2018.   He informed the Court that  he wa,s mere Shareholder.   Mr. Davies informed this Court that   in 2008, the company's assets were leased to Union Fishing on the 22nd October, 2008. It was agreed that Union Fishing employs Akim Mohamed (Deceased), Suffiana Sheick (Maintenance Engineer), George Richards, Abdul Sesay and Gbessay Bangura .  he stated that when the agreement was reached, the Plaintiffs were working for Union Fishing.    Before  his  Partner  died,  Unisa,  one of the Plaintiffs, was sacked.

 

1. After this statement by Mr. Rupert Davies Court, neither the Defendants not their counsel appeared in Court despite several notices.  This was followed by a letter   from the Plaintiff's Solicitor" dated 27th February, 2019.

 

2-7. Proceedings in the Industrial Court are not  governed  by  strict  rules. The Defendant failed to appear to prove any of the allegations made in cross examination of the witnesses and the statement of the Managing Director. The Act and the Rules gives power to this Court to withdraw the file for Judgment when the Defendant fails to appear

 

28. In the circumstance, I hold that in the absence of evidence to the Contrary, the Plaintiffs have proved their case and are entitled to Redundancy compensation, End of Service benefits and other entitlements as computed by the Ministry as follows:  -

 

1. George Richards

•   Leave pay/rate                                          --                                         Le41,454,545.00

• Annual Leave Allowance                          =     Le22,800,000.00
• Redundancy Notice                                  =     Le 2,400,000.00
• Redundancy Compensation                     -        LeSl,818,181.00
• End of Service Benefits                              =      Le511 8l 81181.00

Le 1 70 , 2 9 0 , 9 0 7 . 0 0

 

1. Soufian Sheck
   • Leave pay/rate                                          =     Le43,181,81800
   • Annual Leave Allowance                           =     Le23,750,000.00

• Redundancy Notice                                  =     Le 2,500,000.00

• Redundancy Compensation                     -          Le53,977, 272.00
• End of Service Benefits                              -          Le531 9771 272.00

    Le177,386,362.00

1. Junisa James

•  Leave pay/rate                                          =     Le52,272,727.00

• Annual Leave Allowance                          =     Le23,000,000.00
• Redundancy Notice                                  =     Le 2,000,000.00

• Redundancy Compensation                     =     Le57,500,00. 00

• End of Service Benefits                              =      Le571 S001 000.00

Le191,722, 727.00