An Employee was Beaten and Unfairly Dismissed; the Court Ruled in His Favour

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The High Labour Court has ruled in favour of an employee who was unfairly dismissed, assaulted, and threatened by his employer. The High Labour Court ordered the company to pay substantial compensation to the employee for wrongful termination, assault, and other related damages.

The case involved a marketing administrator who was employed by a company under a fixed-term contract starting November 29, 2023, with a monthly salary of 150 Bahraini dinars plus a 50-dinar housing allowance. His lawyer, Sadiqa Al Mawali, detailed how the company terminated his employment on May 20, 2024, without justification or prior notice.

Furthermore, the employer booked a flight ticket for the employee to return to his home country. When the employee refused, the employer physically assaulted him and sent threatening text messages. The court noted that a criminal conviction had already been issued against the employer for this assault.

The employer filed a countersuit, claiming the employee had resigned and provided a document alleging the employee acknowledged receiving his full salary until December 2023.

The employer also claimed the employee had used up his annual leave and that the company had issued absence notices before the employee's departure. The company maintained that the employee had abandoned his job rather than being dismissed.

Al Mawali refuted these claims, arguing that the employer had forcibly dismissed the employee, attempted to deport him, and assaulted him when he demanded his outstanding dues. She emphasised the company's failure to prove the employee had resigned and requested the court to dismiss the employer's countersuit.

The court sided with the employee, ordering the company to pay 333 Bahraini dinars in outstanding wages with 6% annual interest for the first six months, increasing by 1% per month of delay, up to a maximum of 12% annually.

Additionally, the court awarded the employee 900 dinars compensation for wrongful dismissal, 150 dinars for lack of notice, 65.850 dinars for unused annual leave, 458 dinars for severance pay, a certificate of service, and a replacement flight ticket.

The court also ordered the company to pay court costs and 50 dinars in legal fees. The employer's countersuit was dismissed, with the employer also ordered to pay court costs and 50 dinars in legal fees.