Two former Edible Oil employees were given a total of Lm6,295 in compensation after their dismissal was declared unfair and illegal by an Industrial Tribunal.

In two separate cases, Reuben Debono and Karmenu Spiteri, both members of the General Workers’ Union, were awarded compensation for unfair dismissal. Mr Debono had been an employee of Edible Oil for 29 years and the company claimed that his dismissal was fair. However, the tribunal rejected all its arguments and ruled in favour of Mr Debono, ordering that he receive Lm4,264 in compensation.

In the case of Mr Spiteri, who had been working with the company for 28 years, the Industrial Tribunal ruled that due to a doubtful application of the first-in-last-out procedure, he was to be given Lm1,995 in compensation for his dismissal.

In both cases, the tribunal noted that Mr Debono and Mr Spiteri had failed to enjoy the financial benefits given to long-standing employees in previous years.

The two men were assisted by GWU attorney Dr Marvic DeBarro and Sector Secretary Josef Bugeja.