An Industrial Tribunal yesterday ordered the owners of the former Best Western Les Lapins Hotel to pay a former employee Lm5,240 for an injury he sustained at work.

John Scicluna had filed for compensation after being injured on 16 August 2005 while carrying some wooden beams. The man was treated at St Luke’s Hospital for his injuries, but the hotel owners disputed these claims. The tribunal said that Social Services had decided that the injury was a genuine one and that its decision was final. The hotel owners claimed he had left his job.

However, the tribunal ruled that his termination of employment was unjust because he could not work due to an injury he had sustained while at the workplace. The tribunal therefore ordered the company to pay Lm5,240 in compensation. Dr Ian Spiteri Bailey appeared for the complainant.