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PWD1935

FULL RECOMMENDATION
PW/17/56
DETERMINATION NO. PWD1935
ADJ-00006898 CA-00009335-003

SECTION 7(1), PAYMENT OF WAGES ACT, 1991


PARTIES :
TA HOTELS LIMITED T/A LYNAMS HOTEL
REPRESENTED BY MARTIN CANNY B.L.
INSTRUCTED BY P.M. MARTIN SOLICITORS

- AND -

VIRESHWARSINGH KHOOSYE
REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL MCCORMACK B.L.
INSTRUCTED BY WILLIAM FRY SOLICITORS


DIVISION :

Chairman: Ms Jenkinson
Employer Member: Mr Marie
Worker Member: Mr Hall
SUBJECT:
1. Appeal Of Adjudication Officer Decision No. ADJ-00006898 CA-00009335-003.


BACKGROUND:

2. The Employee appealed the Decision of the Adjudication Officer to the Labour Court on the 10th November 2017. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 24th May 2019. The following is the Court's Determination:

DETERMINATION :

This is an appeal by TA Hotels Limited t/a Lynams Hotel against Decision number ADJ-00006898, CA-00009335-003 of an Adjudication Officer in a complaint by Mr Vireshwarsingh Khoosye against his former employer TA Hotels Limited t/a Lynams Hotels. The complaint relates to alleged contraventions of the Payment of Wages Act 1991, (the Act) when he was not paid minimum notice on the termination of his employment on 1st August 2016. The Adjudication Officer found the complaint to be well founded and directed that the Respondent pay the Complainant four weeks’ notice of €2,000.00.

For ease of reference the parties are given the same designation as they had at first instance. Hence Mr Vireshwarsingh Khoosye will be referred to as “the Complainant” and TA Hotels Limited t/a Lynams Hotel will be referred to as “the Respondent”.

Enforceability of the Complainant’s Contract of Employment

The Court has earlier found in the Determination RPD1916 that the Complainant’s contract of employment was rendered unenforceable, therefore he had no locus standi to pursue the claim under the Act.

Determination

For all of the reasons set out in Determination RPD1916 the Court finds that the contract of employment relied upon by the Complainant’s to ground his claim under the Act was tainted with illegality and therefore unenforceable in law. Consequently, he cannot maintain a claim under the Act. In these circumstances, the Respondent’s appeal is allowed, and the decision of the Adjudication Officer is set aside.

The Court so Determines.



Signed on behalf of the Labour Court



Caroline Jenkinson
TH ______________________
4 December 2019 Deputy Chairman



NOTE

Enquiries concerning this Determination should be addressed to Therese Hickey, Court Secretary.