Stanchart ordered to pay former employee K15m
By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
STANDARD Chartered Bank Zambia has been ordered by the Lusaka High Court to pay its former employee an additional K15 million as damages for constructive dismissal.
Mr Justice, Joshua Banda, also ruled that Ms Celine Meena Nair who worked as head of legal and company secretary is entitled to a motor vehicle allowance for a period of 36 months at the rate of K18, 449,89.
This followed Ms Nair ‘s action to take the case back to Court for assessment after Standard Chartered refused to pay her the allowances as ordered in the Judgment of the Industrial Relations Division of the High Court.
Standard Chartered only paid her K6, 018.000.00 on January 2, last year.
Mr Justice Banda said that as of August 15, this year, Ms Nair was entitled to K15, 778,483.04 which attracts interest at the applicable commercial bank lending rate until its final settlement.
He, however, ruled that Ms Nair was not entitled to claim the Airtel post -paid allowance of K1,114. 59 per month and gymnasium subscription with Taj Pamodzi Hotel at the rate of K450,00 per month because they were merely fringe benefits and not allowances.
Ms Nair had sued the bank following her resignation on July 28, 2015 citing acts of abuse from top management.
Then High Court Industrial Division Judge, Martin Musaluke now Constitutional Court Judge, found that Ms Nair was indeed constructively dismissed by the bank as claimed.
Mr Justice Musaluke said that Standard Chartered did not follow grievance procedure and started telling untruthful statements about the process, as such a breach was committed and awarded her a 36 months gross salary as damages.
Standard Chartered however appealed to the Court of Appeal but a panel of Judges Justine Chashi, Judy Mulongoti and Florence Lengalenga dismissed the appeal, stating that all the nine grounds of appeal for lack of merit.
