Former CEO of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), Dr Vitaly Lyubimov, has filed a complaint with the Employment Tribunal, claiming he was dismissed without notice or compensation.

Lyubimov, the first foreign national to lead MIFCO in its 32-year history, was removed from his post in March, just three months after his appointment.

No official reason was given for his dismissal.

In his complaint, Lyubimov alleges that MIFCO failed to pay him the three-month notice period stipulated in his employment contract. He is seeking USD 42,000 in compensation; the equivalent of three months’ salary.

MIFCO has contested the tribunal's jurisdiction over the matter, arguing that the appointment of a managing director under the Companies Act falls outside the scope of the Employment Act. The company also questioned whether a person in such a role could bring a case before the tribunal after being dismissed.

However, the tribunal found that since an employment agreement had been signed under the provisions of the Employment Act, the case could proceed. While the Act allows exemptions for senior positions, the tribunal ruled that its other provisions still apply if an employment contract exists between the CEO and the company.

MIFCO has been ordered to respond to Lyubimov’s complaint.

Noel Gregory Patterson Jones, former CEO and Managing Director of the Maldives Development Bank, also filed a case with the Employment Tribunal over unpaid salary and benefits. However, the bank maintained that he had been paid in full up to the date of his resignation.