Company explains why secretary was sacked

A financial services company denied firing a secretary because she was pregnant insisting that the employee was not competent for the job.

BDO Attard Buttigieg Psaila and Co. filed a counter protest in which they denied allegations made by Christine Bonnici who, last week, filed a judicial protest claiming she was fired six months after starting work because she was pregnant.

In a counter protest, the company insisted Ms Bonnici was on probation and the decision had been taken before she broke the news about her pregnancy.

A company-run check found that she could not be trusted to handle confidential financial information, the company said.

Ms Bonnici started her six-month probation with the firm on February 9. According to her employment agreement, she accepted to devote all her working time to her employer. However, it emerged that she was sending e-mails, related to a part-time job, while at work.

The company added that Ms Bonnici was also asked to sign a confidential statement declaring that no court judgment had been handed down against her in connection with any debts she might have had.

However, it emerged that, in September 2006, a court had ordered that her apartment be auctioned following a request by HSBC Bank. It also turned out that the Financial Services Authority had ordered her partner be stricken off as an insurance sub agent.

The company felt it could not trust her with their clients' confidential financial information and this had nothing to do with her pregnancy.