By Mohamed Foday Conteh
A High Court ruling by Justice John Bosco Allieu has ordered Villa International Guest House on 11 Edward Lane, Brookfields in Freetown to pay two of its staff a total sum of twenty-one million, one hundred and nine thousand, one hundred and eight Leones (21,109,108).
Villa guest house was dragged to court by plaintiffs, Christopher Bangura and Milton Fatorma on allegations of failing to pay their annual leave allowances for six years and benefit.
Bangura was a receptionist at Villa since 2013. The evidence in court stated he was receiving the sum of five hundred thousand Leones (Le 500,000) as monthly salary. He claimed he continued to receive the amount until 2019 when the proprietor told him to either receive a lesser sum of three hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 350,000) or quit, because he has employed other people.
Bangura told the court his job at the guest house was also inclusive of him cleaning two floors and working on weekends with no remuneration. The first plaintiff also confirmed in court that the defendant (the guest house) gave him a letter of employment when he started working in 2013.
He said although the proprietor promised to pay him his benefit at some point in time, yet he refused to honour his promise. He said he then took the matter to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, where they calculated the amount of money he was to be paid as his six years annual leave allowance. He alleged he never received any sum of money from the guest house’s management.
The judge in his reaction noted that evidence confirmed also that the defence sometime in March this year promised the court that the matter will be settled amicably but evidence revealed that the matter was not settled as promised and that the defence and their solicitor were absent a number of times forcing the court to adjourn the matter on several occasions.
The court noted that the second plaintiff, Fatorma led in evidence by Charles Pujeh, was employed as a cleaner. It was also stated the plaintiff was in court but the defence counsel was absent on a number of times.
The judge then ruled that the defendant, Villa guest house must pay the sum of ten million, five hundred and fifty-four thousand, five hundred and fifty-four Leones (Le 10,554,554) each to Bangura and Fatorma as payment of their benefits and six years annual leave allowance.
Villa’s Acting Manager, Melvin Taylor was present in court when the ruling was given by Justice Allieu.
Copyright © Politico Online 19/10/21
