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Employment and Industrial Relations

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Employer files counter-claim against ex-employee seeking damages Employment and Industrial Relations

Employer files counter-claim against ex-employee seeking damages

In the case of Brian Schembri v National Orchestra Limited, which is currently pending before the First Hall of the Civil Court, the ex-employee sued the employer for payment of three years' salary according to contract, in view of the fact that the employer had terminated the employment contract. In a rather interesting twist, the employer not only defended its position by arguing that it had terminated the contract for sufficient reasons, considering also that the employee himself had abandoned his employment, but it filed a counter-claim against the employee claiming damages suffered as a result of the ex-employee's actions.…
Christine Calleja
11th April 2018
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Does ‘on-call’ time qualify as ‘working time? Employment and Industrial Relations

Does ‘on-call’ time qualify as ‘working time?

In a recent judgment, Ville de Nivelles v Rudy Matzak, decided on the 21st February 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union tackled the issue of 'working time' in terms of Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time, and provided guidance as to when being on-call must be considered as 'working time' within the meaning of the Directive, even if the worker is at home.Rudy Matzak was a volunteer firefighter serving at Nivelles' fire station. One of the conditions of service was that during periods of stand-by, fire-fighters had to remain at all times…
Christine Calleja
27th February 2018
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Discrimination and Harassment at the Workplace Employment and Industrial Relations

Discrimination and Harassment at the Workplace

Dr. Christine Calleja shall be delivering a three-hour presentation, organised by Society Education, on the topic of discrimination and harassment at work. The seminar will give a general overview of Maltese anti-discrimination laws in the field of employment law which are currently in place. The topics of sexual harassment and equal pay will also be examined, together with various case-law related to this topic. The seminar is to be held on Thursday the 22nd February 2018.  Disclaimer This document does not purport to give legal, financial or tax advice. Should you require further information or legal assistance, please do not…
Christine Calleja
17th February 2018
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The importance (or otherwise) of disciplinary proceedings in dismissal cases Employment and Industrial Relations

The importance (or otherwise) of disciplinary proceedings in dismissal cases

In a recent judgment, James Buhagiar vs Jani Limited, delivered on the 26th January 2018, the Court of Appeal examined in quite some detail the issue of disciplinary proceedings in unfair dismissal cases.The employee had been dismissed following an accusation of theft. The disciplinary procedures in the employment contract had been ignored. On the basis of this, the Industrial Tribunal had concluded that the dismissal was in violation of the right to a fair hearing and of the employment conditions. The Tribunal ordered the employer to reinstate the employee in his previous post without loss of pay for the correct…
Christine Calleja
1st February 2018
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Sexual Harassment and Discrimination at the Forefront of the News Employment and Industrial Relations

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination at the Forefront of the News

The topic of discrimination and harassment featured prominently in last week's international news. BBC's former China editor, Carrie Grace, resigned from her post claiming pay discrimination based on gender, giving rise to the #IStandWithCarrie solidarity campaign. Meanwhile in Hollywood, during the Golden Globes, actresses wore black to take a stand against sexual harassment following the Harvey Weinstein scandal, in connection with the Time's Up movement. Locally, in an article published by the Times on the 12th January, it results that three out of every four women are sexually harassed at work. What is more shocking is that the blame-the-victim mentality…
Christine Calleja
17th January 2018
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Protection of Employment for those on a minimum wage. Employment and Industrial Relations

Protection of Employment for those on a minimum wage.

In April of last year, mandatory supplements were introduced for those earning the minimum wage, (and for those who earn slightly more than the minimum wage but less than the new minimum wage with the €3 supplement), by means of amendments to the National Minimum Wage National Standard Order (S.L. 452.71). The supplements are to be paid weekly upon completion of the first year of employment and another supplement is to be paid upon completion of the second year of employment. What is interesting to note is proviso (5) to regulation 4 of the Standard Order which effectively limits the…
Christine Calleja
8th January 2018