Employment tribunal orders dismissed Customs Officer to be restored

Employment Tribunal has order the Maldives Customs Services to restore an officer who was dismissed last year to his job.

Ismail Rimah, H. Baraboamaage, was employed at the Customs at the position of Customs Officer Grade 2, when he was dismissed from employment during April 2011. Following the termination, Rimah brought an action against the Civil Service Commission which effected the dismissal at the Employment Tribunal.

The Tribunal made its decision in favor of the claimant last Thursday.

The Tribunal ordered concerned authorities to resotre Rimah to his job within 15 days and to inform the Tribunal of the restoration officially, within 15 days after the Judgment.

It has not been clear why the Customs decided to terminate Rimah from his employment. The decision of the Tribunal said that the Civil Service Commission could not establish any proof to establish that Rimah was terminated for a reasonable or acceptable reason. On that basis, the Tribunal, by a unanimous decision, said that Rimah was terminated in contravention to the Employment Act, and in violation of his rights guaranteed by the same Act.