Good Shepherd Sisters School Ordered to Pay Over EGP 140,000 to a Worker for Arbitrary Dismissal
The Port Said Labor Court has ruled against the Good Shepherd Sisters School in Port Said, requiring its legal representative to pay more than EGP 140,000 in compensation to worker Faiqa M.N. The court determined that her dismissal was unlawful and lacked legal grounds, stemming from her demand for her rightful financial entitlements.
The compensation includes EGP 95,000 for material and emotional damages, along with EGP 9,463 as notification period compensation, EGP 3,154 for unpaid wages for October 2022, EGP 33,226 for accrued but unused leave days, and EGP 498 as her 2022 annual increment. Moreover, the court directed the school to return her employment documents and cover her legal fees.
The case, filed under No. 747 of 2022, was filed by the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights on behalf of the plaintiff. It challenged the school’s actions as a clear case of arbitrary dismissal.
During the proceedings, the school presented a copy of a social insurance termination form (Form 6) and a photocopy of a resignation letter, claiming the original was filed with the Social Insurance Authority. The plaintiff countered these claims, stating that she had unknowingly signed the form during her hiring process and that the resignation details had been fraudulently added later.
The Social Insurance Authority was called upon to investigate the authenticity of the documents. Its findings confirmed the absence of the original resignation notification, supporting the plaintiff’s claims of document falsification. Citing Article 119 of the Labor Law, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights argued that a resignation is only valid if submitted in writing.
The court, in its judgment, highlighted that tampering with official documents constitutes a blatant violation of the law. It reaffirmed the legal principle that “fraud invalidates everything” and stressed the importance of upholding workers’ rights while ensuring employers adhere to labor laws.
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights celebrated the ruling, describing it as a pivotal victory for justice and a clear message to employers about the need to respect workers’ rights and avoid illegal labor practices.
