DOHA: Qatar’s highest court has ordered a local bank to pay an employee QR1.2m ($330,000) in damages for removing him from his job in an unfair way and in violation of the terms agreed to in his employment contract.
The man, a Pakistani national, joined the bank in early 2008 on a five-year contract. He was given an incentive by the bank of QR300,000 for excellent performance in 2007.
Afterwards, he was promoted to the position of a senior executive manager and he was given a raise a few months later. He was selected as a member of the management committee of the bank as well.
However, as soon as the chairman of the bank’s board changed, the employee fell on bad days.
He was notified that his performance was reevaluated and it was under-average. He was accused of misleading the bank for personal gains. His services were terminated a little later without any justification.
The employee challenged the termination in a lower court. The court asked an expert to prepare a report on the case. Based on this report, the court ordered the bank to pay QR1,240,615 to the employee.
The lawyer of the bank argued that the employee’s services were terminated as part of an administrative restructuring of the bank and according to his job contract both parties were free to make their own decisions.
And his dismissal took place accordingly. But the court rejected the argument.
The court instead ruled that the bank had terminated the employee’s services without any reason since he did not violate Article 64 of the Labour Law. Based on this finding the court has ruled the verdict.
The bank went in appeal but the higher court upheld the verdict of the lower court, reported local Arabic daily Al Raya. The court ruled that the employee’s summary dismissal was illegal.
Article 64 of the Labor Law says that a worker shall file a grievance before the employer before challenging any penalty (dismissal) imposed on him (by the employer) in court within seven days. He could then go to the labor department if the employer does not respond. He can approach a court if the labor department does not decide the matter within seven days.
The Peninsula
