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Bullying at Work Employment and Industrial RelationsNews

Bullying at Work

This week (the week from Monday 16th November 2020 until the 20th November 2020) is anti-bullying week – a week meant to raise awareness against prejudice and bullying not only in schools but also at the workplace and cyber-bullying. Maltese employment law does not deal directly with bullying but with harassment, and this in connection with discriminatory treatment or with sexual harassment. Does this mean that unless there is discrimination involved, the employer is not bound to protect employees from bullying at work?The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service ('ACAS') in the UK defines bullying as behaviour from a person or…
Christine Calleja
17th November 2020
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Court Judgment on Status of Employee Employment and Industrial RelationsNews

Court Judgment on Status of Employee

In a judgment delivered on the 30th September 2020, the Court of Appeal confirmed a decision of the Industrial Tribunal ("the Tribunal") which had found that the relationship between the applicant and the defendant company was not one of employment.The applicant had instituted proceedings before the Industrial Tribunal following the termination of his contract. He alleged that notwithstanding what his contract stated, he should be deemed an employee and therefore termination could only take place for a good and sufficient cause. Since the company had terminated his contract simply by giving notice according to the contract, he was therefore allegedly…
Christine Calleja
2nd October 2020
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How far should the employer go to provide alternative employment in case of health problems? Employment and Industrial Relations

How far should the employer go to provide alternative employment in case of health problems?

In a judgment delivered on the 1st July 2020 (case number 83/2019LM), the Court of Appeal considered the requirements of constructive dismissal. An ex-employee claimed that he had been forced to resign from his employment due to health problems which did not allow him to continue his job. Through his trade union, the employee requested the employer to provide him with alternative employment, but the company replied that none was available. After exhausting all his sick leave and a further period of unpaid leave, he decided to terminate his employment. The Tribunal had decided that the employee had not resigned…
Christine Calleja
10th July 2020
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It’s not always the driver’s fault! Litigation & Dispute Resolution

It’s not always the driver’s fault!

In a judgment delivered on Friday 12th June 2020, the Civil Court, First Hall (the 'Court') found that a pedestrian was solely responsible for a traffic accident, as a result of which the same pedestrian had died. A third party witness had given evidence in the criminal proceedings instituted against the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident, stating that he had seen the pedestrian crossing 4 to 5 feet away from the pedestrian crossings and whilst the traffic lights were red for pedestrians. The victim had also managed to pass through barriers in the road to cross the…
Christine Calleja
15th June 2020
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Conflicting Judgments in Relation to the Notion of ‘the Insurer Concerned’ Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Conflicting Judgments in Relation to the Notion of ‘the Insurer Concerned’

Is an insurer entitled to avoid paying third party victims of an accident in cases where the said insurer obtains a declaration from a Court that the policy which was issued in favour of the policy-holder is null and void under Chapter 104 of the Laws of Malta, or is an insurer still obliged to paythird parties in such cases as the insurer concerned under Subsidiary Legislation 403.13? This question was tackled by the Court of Appeal in the case Middlesea Insurance plc today Mapfre Middlesea plc vs Emanuel Ciantar et which was decided on the 27th March 2020.The Court…
Christine Calleja
6th April 2020
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Covid 19 – Employment Measures COVID19 MeasuresEmployment and Industrial Relations

Covid 19 – Employment Measures

COVID 19 – Employment MeasuresThe coronavirus has started taken its toll on Maltese business with many employers, especially those in the tourism and entertainment industry, having to shut down their operations temporarily. This article addresses the main queries which are being asked by employers in view of the current situation. What is quarantine leave?On the 13th March 2020, Legal Notice 62 of 2020 (the Minimum Special Leave Entitlement (Amendment) Regulations) came into force to make provision for quarantine leave. Quarantine leave is defined as "leave to be granted to the employee without loss of wages in such cases where the…
Christine Calleja
16th March 2020