An industrial tribunal awarded Lm5,000 compensation to a 35-year-old man after it found out that he was unjustly fired by Seabank Catering Ltd.

Kenneth Vella started working for the company in 1996, and rose through the ranks until he was appointed Complex Manager of Tunny Net in January 2003.

In January 2005, he was asked to go on leave as he had amassed a number of leave days over the years. While he was on vacation, two cooks dropped out of a scheduled training trip to Italy and the company asked Mr Vella to attend in their stead. He was fired when he refused, and then offered another position, which he refused.

The tribunal, presided over by Alphonse Caruana held that Mr Vella was laid off unjustly and ordered the company to pay him Lm5,000 in damages.

Dr Ian Spiteri Bailey appeared for Mr Vella while Dr Aaron Mifsud Bonnici appeared for Seabank Catering Ltd.