Industrial Relations Court of Zambia - 2017

19 judgments
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Results. 19 judgments found.

19 judgments
December 2017
Failure to oppose a served bill of costs precludes later challenge to execution on an untaxed bill.
  • Civil procedure — execution by Writ of Fifa — untaxed bill of costs — duty to oppose taxation — failure to oppose precludes later challenge — costs on appeal.
17 December 2017
Consent orders are binding; a stay requires strong merits and duress must be specifically pleaded.
  • Civil procedure — Consent orders — Binding effect of consent judgments; Stay of execution — requirement of strong showing of likely success and absence of prejudice; Duress — must be specifically pleaded with particulars (Order 18 R.8(12) RSC); Interpleader and jurisdictional removal of property.
14 December 2017
Dismissals without a proper case hearing were unfair; three months' salary awarded, reinstatement refused.
  • Labour law — unfair dismissal — requirement of a proper case hearing and record — Board of Inquiry distinct from disciplinary hearing — remedy: damages v reinstatement — burden of proof on claimant — prohibition on awarding salary for periods not worked.
12 December 2017
Termination without disclosed valid reasons or disciplinary hearing breached the Employment Act; wrongful dismissal damages awarded.
  • Employment law — Termination — Requirement to give valid reasons under s.36(1)(c)(i) and s.36(3) — Procedural fairness and disciplinary hearing — Breach of contract — Measure of damages for wrongful dismissal — Redundancy claim — Proof required — Damages for non-pecuniary suffering requires evidence.
12 December 2017
Wrongful and unfair dismissal for lack of disciplinary procedure; statutory minimum wage and allowances awarded, redundancy claim dismissed.
  • Employment law — wrongful and unfair dismissal — failure to follow disciplinary procedure and right to be heard; statutory minimum wage; entitlement to housing, lunch and transport allowances; redundancy requirements; unjust enrichment and unpaid salary.
12 December 2017
October 2017
Employees summarily dismissed after seeking labour office clarification entitled to damages; only contractually guaranteed 13th cheques payable.
  • Employment law — summary dismissal — procedural fairness — right to be heard; Contract terms — unilateral variation of basic conditions (13th cheque) — effect on employment; Group companies — applicable disciplinary code; Remedies — damages for unfair dismissal, interest, and costs.
30 October 2017
Dismissal after a work-related injury without notice or hearing held wrongful and unfair; damages awarded.
  • Employment law — wrongful dismissal (breach of contract for failure to give notice/pay in lieu) — unfair dismissal (procedural fairness; right to be heard; medical assessment) — absence/desertion allegations — section 36 Employment Act — damages and interest.
26 October 2017
Whether statutory pension-age amendments to 60 apply to employees not yet 55 and entitle them to benefits and damages.
  • Pension law amendment — pensionable age raised to 60 — applicability to employees not yet 55 on enactment — premature retirement at 55 — reinstatement denied — employees deemed retired at 60 — damages for unlawful retirement.
13 October 2017
The applicant was wrongfully and unfairly dismissed; the respondent failed to prove theft and breached disciplinary procedure.
  • Employment law — wrongful and unfair dismissal — employer must prove misconduct alleged; disciplinary charges must reflect evidence and comply with natural justice — damages: departure from normal notice award where offence unproved — interest and costs.
4 October 2017
September 2017
Dismissal during suspension without factual basis is unfair; accrued leave is payable; defamation claim dismissed.
  • Labour law — unfair/wrongful dismissal — suspension pending investigation — dismissal for alleged absconding without factual substratum — accrued leave entitlement — defamation claim arising from lawful police investigations.
22 September 2017
Complainant's challenge to summary dismissal dismissed where respondent observed disciplinary procedure and facts supported dismissal.
  • Employment law — unfair dismissal — disciplinary procedure — natural justice — substratum of facts — burden on employee to prove wrongful dismissal — audits as basis for disciplinary action — admissions in appeal letter.
22 September 2017
Whether the respondent's failure to follow disciplinary procedure rendered the applicant's dismissal wrongful and entitled him to damages.
  • Labour law — unfair/wrongful dismissal — failure to follow disciplinary procedure — verbal suspension — desertion not proved — mitigation of damages — refusal of reinstatement; award of damages and interest.
22 September 2017
Termination invoked under probation without formal charges or hearing amounted to unfair dismissal; six months’ pay awarded.
  • Employment law — probationary termination — incorporation of disciplinary code — requirement to charge and hear employee; Natural justice — right to be heard before dismissal; Wrongful/unfair dismissal — remedies and damages assessment; Accrued leave — proof and admission; Interest and costs.
11 September 2017
August 2017
Acceptance of an offer letter created a binding fixed-term contract; termination for an unagreed probation clause breached it, awarding four months' pay.
  • Contract formation — offer accepted by signature — condition precedent — offer letter binding; employment law — fixed-term contract; probation clause unenforceable if not agreed; wrongful termination; damages — expectation loss, mitigation and adjustment for gratuity; award of four months' pay with interest.
9 August 2017
July 2017
Failure to show good cause for lengthy delay and irregular issuance of a writ warranted dismissal of leave to appeal out of time.
  • Civil procedure — extension of time to appeal — discretionary grant requires good cause and consideration of length of delay and prospects of success; irregular issuance of writ of fieri facias — necessity of recalculation/order after withdrawal of advocates; Industrial/Labour Court — substantial justice vs procedural rules.
14 July 2017
June 2017
Dismissal based on a non-existent disciplinary offence arising from union-related activity was wrongful; reinstatement ordered.
  • Labour law; unfair dismissal; disciplinary procedure; non-existent offence; union activity protection (s.5(1)(g) Industrial and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1997); reinstatement remedy.
15 June 2017
April 2017
Employee unlawfully dismissed without hearing; reinstatement denied; awarded six months' salary damages; other claims dismissed.
  • Employment law — unlawful dismissal — related companies treated as one — authority of parent/company board to terminate — statutory right to be heard (Section 26A) — promise of shares unenforceable without offer and acceptance — reinstatement discretionary and refused — damages awarded; salary arrears, wrongful deduction and maternity pay claims dismissed.
6 April 2017
March 2017
Employer wrongfully and unlawfully dismissed applicant by offering employment before verifying pre-employment medicals and failing to give reasons or hearing.
  • Wrongful dismissal; pre-employment medicals and silicosis verification; statutory requirement to give reasons on termination (s.5 Act No.15 of 2015); unfair dismissal—right to be heard; damages, interest and costs awarded.
24 March 2017
Applicant constructively dismissed after transfer without relocation support; awarded two months' salary, benefits, interest and costs.
  • Employment law — transfer and relocation — failure to provide transfer letter, transport and subsistence — constructive dismissal — summary dismissal for desertion — damages and contractual benefits awarded.
24 March 2017