A tug boat master yesterday claimed he had been suspended by his employer after he refused to attend training abroad because of his fear of flying.

Joseph Dimech said Tug Malta’s behaviour amounted to discriminatory treatment when the law clearly stated that the employer should adapt the work given to employees to alleviate any negative effects on them.

In an application before an industrial tribunal, Mr Dimech said the moment he was given the notice to attend the training on August 26 he was afflicted by anxiety.

He said the anxiety attacks and stress began with any mention or suggestion of him having to get on a plane and fly. His psychiatrist, Anthony Dimech, however, declared he would be able to travel by sea or land.

Despite this declaration, the company insisted he flew to Genoa in Italy for the training and even bought him an air ticket but he returned it.

The company instituted disciplinary proceedings against Mr Dimech in September and he has since been suspended from work, his lawyer Aron Mifsud Bonnici said.

The proceedings and treatment, he added, were discriminatory because he was not being given the opportunity to attend training because of this disability.

Mr Dimech is asking the tribunal to declare the company’s behaviour discriminatory, stop the disciplinary proceedings, give the same training to him as his colleagues and award compensation.

The company’s lawyer, Andrew Borg Cardona, said Mr Dimech has been off-roster but on full pay although the management would be reviewing this now that the matter had taken a new turn.