Italian drags firm to court over unpaid €67,753.00 as salary, allowances

An Italian citizen based in Nigeria, Mr. Marco Zoccoli, has dragged a company in Lagos, MPS Nigeria Limited to court, for not paying his salary and allowances as a Production Manager for 3 years.

Mr. Zoccoli told the National Industrial Court that in 2016, he received €18,000.00 instead of €48,000.00, while the sum of €30,000.00 had not been paid till date.

Also, €8,347.00 was paid to him in 2017, out of €36,000.00, leaving the balance of €27,753.00 outstanding and unpaid till date.

The claimant’s counsel, Isiaka Abidemi Yusuf, said the company’s failure or refusal to pay the claimant’s €67,753 salary and his over N1 million feeding allowances in the past 19 months was “cruel, exploitative and an inexcusable breach of the terms of the claimant’s employment.”

In suit No. NIC/LA/212/2018, the claimant lamented how he was issued two separate employment letters and served under a dictated harsh working environment at the company’s branch office in Calabar Free Trade Zone, Cross River state, before which his Italian Passport was confiscated by the management of the company on the pretext of immigration purposes till date.
 
He said the defendant has no valid reason for not paying his salary before or after his three years renewable appointment which stated on September 19, 2014, expired on September 31, 2017.

In his Statement on Oath, dated March 22, 2018, the claimant maintained that the defendant through its officers, from the Group Human Resources Department, including the duo of Mr Tony Mafiana and one Mr  Laitu Miyim, threatened at several times to use their influence to effect his forceful deportation to Italy without paying the outstanding entitlement.

The Italian said as a law abiding resident in Nigeria, he has officially informed the Itallian Embassy of his predicament and has since filed a complaint to the police as the basis of charge.

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