A man claimed yesterday that the 2003 Act regarding the restructuring of the dockyards breached his fundamental human rights when his employment with Malta Drydocks Corporation was terminated and he was transferred to Industrial Projects and Services Ltd.

In a constitutional application filed against the Attorney General and Investments Minister Austin Gatt, Lawrence Bilocca explained that he had been a Malta Drydocks Corporation employee for 28 years and on 7 November 2003 was transferred to Industrial Projects and Services Ltd instead of Malta Shipyards Ltd. This therefore meant that his employment with Malta Drydocks Corporation had been terminated.

Later that month, he filed an application with the Industrial Tribunal demanding to know the reasons for his dismissal and transfer, claiming this breached the Employment and Industrial Relations Act and he was therefore owed compensation.

He was told that the restructuring of the dockyards, in accordance to the 2003 Act regarding the structure of shipyard workers, had led to his dismissal and eventual transfer.

Mr Bilocca claimed this Act breached his fundamental human rights, as well as his civil rights, since he was denied a hearing in front of the Industrial Tribunal.

He said he had the right to this hearing, according to the law and according to his contract with Malta Drydocks Corporation. Mr Bilocca went on to list the articles of the Act he considered breached his civil and human rights.

He therefore demanded that the court declare the articles listed in the application to be declared null.

The application was filed by Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.