32 former employees drag Methodist University to court over unpaid benefits

The Methodist University College has stated that some 14 lecturers who were laid off by the school last year did not receive redundancy packages because they were contract staff.

This was after the 14, together with some other former employees sued the University for terminating their employment.

The former employees, 32 in number, accused the university of describing their sack as termination instead of redundancy just to avoid giving them the deserved packages.

According to the suit filed at the Labour Division of the Accra High Court on December 17, 2019, MUC is making it difficult for the plaintiffs to secure new jobs as “termination sends a negative message to potential employers”.

But in its statement of defence filed on 17th January 2020, MUC insisted that whilst the 14 lecturers were not entitled to redundancy payments, the other 18 who were non-teaching staff were adequately compensated.

The university said the non-teaching staff received six months’ salary each after the notice of termination was served.

The statement added that the college acted in conformity with labour laws and the terms of conditions of the former employees’ employment.

MUC further insists that the plaintiffs are not entitled to the demands they are making in court, hence, the case must be dismissed.

The 32 former employees want an order from the court directing MUC give them redundancy packages.

They are also seeking damages for ‘wrongful termination of employment’ as well as an order for the payment of the salaries and other benefits which they are entitled to.

The Methodist University College, however, contends that the 32 are not entitled to the demands they are making and has urged the court to dismiss them.

The school also made a counterclaim seeking an order to compel one of the plaintiffs, Samuel Kwabi, to refund GH¢21,422, which it says is in excess of the entitlement paid him.

The dismissed employees, according to MUC, are part of 48 workers who were affected by a restructuring exercise undertaken by the school.

The restructure to reduce cost was due to a decline in enrolment of students at the university after the National Accreditation Board elevated polytechnics and colleges of education to degree-awarding institutions.