Muhammad Bah The alleged wrongful dismissal case involving 30 former workers of Capital Gas Company before the Kanifing Industrial Tribunal has proceeded on Wednesday, 9 July 2014. The workers, who are claiming wrongful termination of service by Tony Daniel Drago, the proprietor of the company, are being represented by Mr. Ebrima Garba Cham, the Secretary General of the Gambia’s Workers Union, while the company was not represented. In the testimony of Mr. Alieu Sanneh, the 18th plaintiff told the Tribunal that he is residing in Abuko and was employed by Capital Gas to be doing welding and fabrication work for the company with a salary of 10,000 dalasi per month. He said his employment was terminated in 0ctober 2013 when they started demanding for their workers’ rights. He said he was supposed to go on leave for 63 days but which the management denied him, noting that he has been working beyond the agreed daily working hours without overtime pay. He told the Tribunal that he is claiming for an overtime of 208 hours. “I also came to know that my social security was not paid by the company after I made enquires with the social security office,” said the 18 plaintiff. Mr. Sanneh told the Tribunal that he was not given an employment letter. He maintained that his job termination is wrongful because the owner only decided to terminate their services after they demanded for their rights. Mr. Fai Sanneh, the 19th plaintiff, said he lives in Sinchu Alhagie Village in Kombo North and has been working for Capital Gas as a welder since March 2012. He said he was terminated alongside his 29 colleagues. Mr. Sanneh said he has been working beyond the agreed time without overtime pay and is claiming for 48 days work leave and 104 hours of overtime. The matter was adjourned to 16th July 2014.]]>
