By Peter Jegwa
The Industrial Relations Court in Blantyre has awarded three former executives of Press Corporation (PCL), a public company incorporated in Malawi listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange, 14 billion Malawi Kwacha (approximately 8 thousand US Dollars) for unfair dismissal.
The three, former group chief executive officer George Partridge, former company secretary Bernard Ndau and former group financial controller Elizabeth Mafeni were dismissed following what the company called “an ongoing functional review exercise aimed at introducing radical changes, including removal of some positions.”
According to court testimony, the dismissals of the three were first communicated by word of mouth on December 10, 2021 before the three were given letters of termination on January 7, 2022.
The three, however, claimed that the conglomerate unfairly and unlawfully sacked them and filed a suit demanding K33 billion as compensation for unfair dismissal and unlawful labour practices.
Last October, the Industrial Relations Court ruled in favour of the dismissed staffers and ordered Press Corporation Limited, which is Malawi’s largest conglomerate with interests in banking, telecommunications, energy, real estate and hospitality, to compensate them for unlawful dismissal and unfair labour practices.
“The applicants’ claim for compensation for unfair and unlawful dismissal and damages for unfair labour practices are well founded. The parties are at liberty to agree on appropriate compensation out of court,” court deputy chairperson Tamanda Nyimba said.
The company and the ex-employees failed to reach an out-of-court settlement and the court presided over a hearing to assess compensation between December 19, 2024 and January 12, 2025.
The court has now passed its verdict awarding the trio a total of K14 billion, less than half the amount that was being claimed.
Mafeni has been awarded approximately K8 billion while Partridge and Ndau were awarded compensations of K4 billion and K3 billion, respectively.
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