Industrial Tribunals Northern Ireland Decisions

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URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/cases/NIIT/2010/1799_10IT.html
Cite as: [2010] NIIT 1799_10IT

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THE INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNALS

CASE REF: 1799/10

CLAIMANT: Martin Duffy

RESPONDENT: Rubbertec International Limited

DECISION

(A) The claimant’s claim in respect of wages is well-founded and it is ordered that the respondent shall pay to the claimant the sum of £618 in respect of unpaid wages.

(B) The claimant’s claim for accrued but unpaid holiday pay is well-founded and it is ordered that the respondent shall pay to the claimant the sum of £423 in respect of holiday pay.

(C) The claimant’s claim in respect of notice pay is well-founded. It is ordered that the respondent shall pay to the claimant the sum of £3,711 in respect of notice pay.

(D) The claimant’s claim in respect of a redundancy payment is well-founded and it is declared that the claimant is entitled to an £8,460 redundancy payment from the respondent.

Constitution of Tribunal:

Chairman: Mr P Buggy

Members: Mr I Carroll

Mr J Welsh

Appearances:

The claimant was self-represented.

There was no appearance on behalf of the respondent.

REASONS

1. At the end of this hearing, we issued our decision orally. At the same time, we gave oral reasons for our decision. Accordingly, what follows is by way of summary only.

2. In these proceedings, the claimant claims all of the sums specified above. On the basis of the claimant’s claim form, on the basis of his oral testimony, and on the basis of a letter dated 5 May 2010 from the respondent, we are satisfied that the claimant was employed by the respondent company, and that he is entitled to the sums claimed by him, and that those sums have not been paid to him.

3. As was explained during the course of this hearing, the position is as follows. The respondent has not defended these proceedings. In their letter of 5 May 2010, the respondent in effect admits liability in respect of the sums which are claimed in respect of wages and accrued holiday entitlement. In the circumstances, it has been unnecessary to consider, for the purpose of determining these claims against the employer (in the context of the claims for wages, for holidays and for statutory notice) whether net pay, as distinct from gross pay, should be allowed, whether there should be deductions in respect of receipt of any social security benefits received by the claimant, or whether there should be deductions in respect of any pay received in respect of new (post-dismissal) employment. However, if the claimant is ever able to make a successful application to the Department for Employment and Learning (“the Department”) for payment in respect of those debts (in the Department’s role as statutory guarantor), the net pay/gross pay issue, the issue as to whether allowance should be made for social security payments, and the issue as to whether allowance should be made for any income received in the course in new employment, are all matters which would then have to be addressed.

4. As was explained during this hearing, the position at present seems to be that the Department would not be liable, in a statutory guarantor role, to make any payments to this claimant in respect of wages, holiday pay or notice pay, because the respondent is not, currently, formally insolvent. It has not, for example, gone into liquidation or administration. According to the claimant’s testimony in these proceedings, he has not obtained new employment, but has been receiving Job Seeker’s Allowance.

5. This is a relevant decision for the purposes of the Industrial Tribunals (Interest) Order (Northern Ireland) 1990.

Chairman:

Date and place of hearing: 3 November 2010, Belfast.

Date decision recorded in register and issued to parties:

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