Architect gets €18,000 compensation for unfair dismissal

The Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools has been ordered to pay an architect €18,000 after an Industrial Tribunal found that he had been unfairly dismissed.

However the tribunal said it should not order his reinstatement.

The tribunal declared that architect Paul Micallef had acted in a professional manner when he prepared the plans for Dun Guzepp Zammit Brighella School. He also used to visit the site frequently and also delegated some responsibilities to site supervisor Henry Massa, as was laid down in his contract.

The foundation had dismissed the architect after a Disciplinary Board said he was absent from the site several days before the school opened. The foundation had held that the architect was responsible to ensure that the work was completed on time and that the area was safe for schoolchildren. The foundation had also claimed that the architect was rude to his superiors.

The tribunal said that it had established that the school was completed before the scholastic year opened, and he was always in control of the situation.

As for the rude language, the tribunal said that had happened in the heat of the moment.

The tribunal, however felt it could not upheld the request for reinstatement.

Dr Lydia Abela assisted Mr Micallef.

Andrew Borg Cardona appeared for the foundation.