July 15, 2016 By Hawa Amara
Justice Patrick Hamilton, presiding at the Freetown High Court, has ordered Timis Mining Company to pay redundant workers the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand United Stated Dollars (US$250,000).
In his ruling, Justice Hamilton stated that the plaintiffs and the defendant (Timis Mining Company) were in court over termination and denial of entitlements and other benefits allegedly due to the former workers.
He said after listening to both sides, second defendant Martin Small did state that the contract was terminated in March, 2015, a period during which they had stopped operations.
He said the defendant stated that they would have paid the workers but were busy with the maintenance of power supply system which did not materialise.
Justice Hamilton stated that according to the second defendant, a contract payment was being done on a weekly basis.
He added that there were some outstanding payments, which the company promised to effect commissioning their generators but could not because they had some challenges.
“It has been alleged that the Timis Mining Company made an undertaking to pay the redundant workers their benefits and later refused. In the circumstances, I therefore rule that the Timis Mining Company pay the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars (US$250,000) to the plaintiff,” Justice Hamilton ruled.