Nada Salon appeals tribunal ruling on unpaid maternity leave

Nada Salon has filed an appeal in the High Court against an Employment Tribunal decision ordering the company to pay over MVR 100,000 in compensation to a former employee.

The employee had filed a case against Salon Maldives Pvt Ltd, which operates Nada Salon, after the company did not pay her salary during her three-month maternity leave. She had requested the leave following her annual leave, but, according to the tribunal, was not paid and subsequently resigned.

Under the Employment Act, every female employee is entitled to three months of maternity leave. Nada Salon did not attend the tribunal hearings.

In March, the Employment Tribunal ruled that the salon had violated the Employment Act and forced the employee to resign without valid cause.

The tribunal ordered the company to reinstate her, pay three months’ leave salary of MVR 48,600, and MVR 97,200 as compensation for unfair dismissal. The salon was also ordered to pay MVR 35,000 for legal fees, MVR 3,000 as a Ramadan allowance, and MVR 3,000 in punitive damages.

The salon appealed the decision in June. The High Court website does not indicate whether a ruling has been issued.