Karl Azzopardi resigned from his position as CEO of the Building and Construction Authority voluntarily and was not entitled to compensation, an Industrial Tribunal has ruled.

But it also concluded that Azzopardi had been given to understand that an alternative post or financial compensation would have been given.

The tribunal, chaired by Harold Walls, called on the parties to meet for a solution, or revert to the tribunal if no agreement was reached.

Azzopardi claimed unfair dismissal and demanded compensation, arguing that he had left his post in May 2022 after a meeting during which Minister, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi had voiced disappointment with the way the council was being run.

Azzopardi said he had agreed to resign only after having been given assurances that he would be given compensation or an alternative post.

In their testimony before the tribunal, the minister and the permanent secretary said that they had expressed their disappointment, but they had not asked for a resignation.

The tribunal noted that in his resignation letter there was no reference to compensation. But in previous correspondence, Azzopardi had that he was expecting full settlement according to his contract of service.