The manager of the airport’s duty free shop breached a woman’s fundamental right to a fair hearing when he told her to resign or be demoted after claiming he found stolen perfume testers in her handbag.

An industrial tribunal ruled there was no evidence to prove the perfumes had been stolen.

It ruled she had been dismissed unfairly and ordered the company to give her back her job. However, the tribunal also found there was no evidence to prove the woman’s claims that the manager had framed her by placing the perfume in her bag.

Veronica Vassallo, 51, took her unfair dismissal case to the Industrial Tribunal after she resigned from The Nuance Group Malta Ltd, operators of the duty free shop at Malta International Airport.

Ms Vassallo had been working for the company for 29 years and was a retail administrator until 2009, when the alleged incident occurred.

The tribunal heard Ms Vassallo had a poor working relationship with the shop manager, Paul Salnitro, who called her into his office on June 12, 2009, to question her about items found in her handbag.

Despite her denials, Mr Salnitro gave her the option to either resign or be demoted.

She felt she had to resign and reported Mr Salnitro to his superiors for searching her handbag without her approval and in her absence.

After reflecting on the matter, she realised she had effectively been forced to resign so she told the company she wanted to withdraw her resignation letter and continue with her job. However, the company refused and said her contract would have been terminated that September.

The company vehemently denied allegations it framed Ms Vassallo and the tribunal noted there was conflicting evidence about the perfume testers allegedly found in Ms Vassallo’s handbag. It also said there were no witnesses to the search.

The tribunal, which was presided over by Harold Walls, ruled that the company, through Mr Salnitro’s “unilateral” decision, had breached Ms Vassallo’s right to a fair hearing and to have the opportunity to defend herself against disciplinary action.

It ordered the company to reinstate Ms Vassallo and pay her the wages she had missed since her dismissal.

Ms Vassallo was represented by the General Workers’ Union while Katia Mercieca appeared for the company.

When contacted, Dr Mercieca confirmed the company would not be filing an appeal and “shall be acting according to the decision”.