Industrial Relations Court of Malawi - 2020

9 judgments

Court registries

  • Filters
  • Judges
  • Alphabet
Sort by:
9 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
November 2020
Dismissal unfair: employer failed to prove misconduct and denied the employee a meaningful opportunity to call witnesses; compensation ordered.
Employment law – unfair dismissal – burden of proof on employer – right to a meaningful hearing and to call witnesses – insufficient evidence linking employee to alleged theft – compensation assessment by Registrar.
16 November 2020
October 2020
Dismissal for alleged loss of equipment was unfair because employer failed to consider mitigating factors; compensation ordered to be assessed.
Employment law – unfair dismissal – employer’s burden to prove substantive and procedural fairness – consideration of mitigating factors (length of service, past record, recovery of property) – compensation under s.63 Employment Act.
23 October 2020
July 2020
Review court affirmed five‑month damages for unfair dismissal, rejected 24‑month claim, and added five months’ allowances.
Employment law – unfair dismissal – compensation under s.63 Employment Act – measure of damages is prima facie earnings subject to mitigation – fixed‑term contracts – employment not for life – inclusion of allowances/fringe benefits in compensation – review of Registrar’s assessment under Rule 5A(2).
31 July 2020
The applicant failed to discharge the burden of proof for terminal benefits; Labour Office calculations alone were inadequate.
Employment law – terminal benefits – burden of proof on employee to prove leave pay, gratuity, notice pay and service allowance; Labour Office calculation sheets insufficient without evidential foundation; signed acknowledgements of payments relevant to claim.
29 July 2020
Short notice, added charge and denied cross-examination rendered the dismissal procedurally unfair; damages and severance ordered.
Employment law — unfair dismissal; natural justice and procedural fairness — adequate notice to prepare, particularisation of charges, right to cross-examine adverse witnesses; unproven allegations cannot ground summary dismissal; damages and severance to be assessed.
28 July 2020
May 2020
Employer may deduct for shortages but must give prior written notice and an opportunity to be heard before deducting terminal benefits.
Employment law – Deductions for shortages – Restitution from terminal benefits; Procedural fairness – Right to be heard and written reasons – Constitution ss. 43 & 31; Lawful entitlement to deduct does not excuse failure to follow natural justice; Pension protection from deduction (limited).
22 May 2020
Employee unfairly dismissed due to procedural defects and apparent bias; awarded compensation, other claims dismissed.
Employment law – unfair dismissal – section 57 Employment Act – procedural fairness (notice, particulars, reasonable time, right to call and cross‑examine witnesses) – apprehended bias of decision‑maker – remedies: compensation, notice pay, severance, pension contributions.
19 May 2020
April 2020
Claim for unfair dismissal dismissed where contract was frustrated by employee's mental incapacity and resignation precluded notice pay.
Employment law — Unfair dismissal — Frustration of contract by employee incapacity (mental illness) — Resignation following disciplinary process — Entitlement to notice pay.
30 April 2020
January 2020
Employer failed to substantiate gross-negligence dismissal; termination unfair and compensation ordered, repatriation costs reserved for assessment.
Labour law – unfair dismissal; employer’s evidential burden under s.61(1) Employment Act; justice and equity requirement under s.61(2); supervisor liability for subordinate actions; disciplinary procedure and procedural fairness; repatriation costs reserved for assessment.
20 January 2020